How to Read and Do Proofs: An Introduction to Mathematical Thought Processes | 
| Author: Daniel Solow
Publisher: Wiley
Category: Book
Buy New: $40.99
New (22) Used (17) from $35.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 27938
Media: Paperback
Edition: 4
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.4
ISBN: 0471680583
Dewey Decimal Number: 511.36
EAN: 9780471680581
ASIN: 0471680583
Publication Date: October 25, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
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Product Description
An easy-to-use guide that shows how to read, understand, and do proofs. - Shows how any proof can be understood as a sequence of techniques.
- Covers the full range of techniques used in proofs, such as the contrapositive, induction, and proof by contradiction.
- Explains how to identify which techniques are used and how they are applied in the specific problem.
- Illustrates how to read written proofs with many step-by-step examples.
- Includes new, expanded appendices related to discrete mathematics, linear algebra, modern algebra and real analysis.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 Good, but feels like a con compared to earlier versions January 2, 2009
This is an excellent book because if one follows the text and does the work in the exercises, one cannot but attain a competence in constructing proofs and improve one's ability to understand them.
So why do I feel I have been conned? I already had the second edition of this book, and decided that it was so good I would invest in the latest (4th) edition. In the Preface the author states that "The exercises in the body of the text have not changed .... As before, all exercises with a B have answers in the back of the book." This statement is false, which is especially irritating in a book that claims to teach truth tables and the other essentials of mathematical proof. One example of why this claim is false is that in the Second Edition, Ex. 1.9.b has an answer in the back of the book, but this is not the case with the fourth edition. What seems to have happened is that the missing answer has been cut from the book and placed on the publisher's website. Given the massive price increase between the two editions, this seems a somewhat idle approach to creating content for the website; it would have been more reasonable to have created new content for the website. However, the fact is that there are fewer answers provided to Ch. 1 in the fourth edition than there were in the second edition.
It feels disappointing that such a great author and teacher and such a great publishing house should seem to sail so close to the wind. Perhaps a fifth edition will make up for these oversights.
 Eh October 25, 2007
0 out of 44 found this review helpful
This book is pretty useless to me. I only bought it because my professor recommended it and because my company covers all my school expenses. I have opened the book exactly one time and it was not much help. But I suppose, as far as books on 'How to read/do proofs' go, this one is probably good. I just don't see a need for this subject in general.
It should be noted that I am an engineer and have no use for this subject all together. I am just taking it to satisfy my course requirements.
 How to think mathematically May 4, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book does a great job of guiding you through the process of developing mathematical reasoning. I used it alongside my transition to higher math course this year and would not have done as well in the course without it.
A MUST HAVE!!!!! November 7, 2006
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
I wish this book was out when I was an undergrad! It is clear and concise. It covers many of the basic areas of math and gives a tremendous amount of insight on which style of proof fits a particular situation. Every example is presented in a very clear way, which gave me confidence in my ability to write proofs. This book should be used by ALL professors who teach an introductory analysis course.
A Good Introduction, but Stilted Prose August 21, 2006
6 out of 12 found this review helpful
I will not disagree with the previous reviews, except to say that the author while pretty clear and straight-forward in explaining things, has a stilted style that doesn't always flow or read well. I suspect though for many people, particularly many novice, and some professional, mathematicians will never really notice it or find it problematic.
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