Daniel Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Peter Rosenthal.
EDITION STATEMENT
Edition Statement
Second edition.
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.
Cham, Switzerland :
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Springer,
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2018.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
1 online resource (xviii, 218 pages) :
Other Physical Details
illustrations
SERIES
Series Title
Undergraduate texts in mathematics,
ISSN of Series
0172-6056
GENERAL NOTES
Text of Note
Includes index.
CONTENTS NOTE
Text of Note
Preface to the Second Edition -- Preface for Readers -- Preface for Instructors -- 1. Introduction to the Natural Numbers -- 2. Mathematical Induction -- 3. Modular Arithmetic -- 4. The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic -- 5. Fermat's Theorem and Wilson's Theorem -- 6. Sending and Receiving Coded Messages -- 7. The Euclidean Algorithm and Applications -- 8. Rational Numbers and Irrational Numbers -- 9. The Complex Numbers -- 10. Sizes of Infinite Sets -- 11. Fundamentals of Euclidean Plane Geometry -- 12. Constructability -- 13. An Introduction to Infinite Series -- 14. Some Higher Dimensional Spaces -- Index.
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SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Designed for an undergraduate course or for independent study, this text presents sophisticated mathematical ideas in an elementary and friendly fashion. The fundamental purpose of this book is to teach mathematical thinking while conveying the beauty and elegance of mathematics. The book contains a large number of exercises of varying difficulty, some of which are designed to help reinforce basic concepts and others of which will challenge virtually all readers. The sole prerequisite for reading this text is high school algebra. Topics covered include: * mathematical induction * modular arithmetic * the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic * Fermat's Little Theorem * RSA encryption * the Euclidean algorithm * rational and irrational numbers * complex numbers * cardinality * Euclidean plane geometry * constructibility (including a proof that an angle of 60 degrees cannot be trisected with a straightedge and compass)* infinite series * higher dimensional spaces. This textbook is suitable for a wide variety of courses and for a broad range of students of mathematics and other subjects. Mathematically inclined senior high school students will also be able to read this book. From the reviews of the first edition: "It is carefully written in a precise but readable and engaging style ... I thoroughly enjoyed reading this recent addition to the Springer Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics series and commend this clear, well-organised, unfussy text to its target audiences." (Nick Lord, The Mathematical Gazette, Vol. 100 (547), 2016) "The book is an introduction to real mathematics and is very readable. ... The book is indeed a joy to read, and would be an excellent text for an 'appreciation of mathematics' course, among other possibilities." (G.A. Heuer, Mathematical Reviews, February, 2015) "Many a benighted book misguidedly addresses the need [to teach mathematical thinking] by framing reasoning, or narrowly, proof, not as pervasive modality but somehow as itself an autonomous mathematical subject. Fortunately, the present book gets it right ... [presenting] well-chosen, basic, conceptual mathematics, suitably accessible after a K-12 education, in a detailed, self-conscious way that emphasizes methodology alongside content and crucially leads to an ultimate clear payoff. ... Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and two-year technical program students; general readers." (D.V. Feldman, Choice, Vol. 52 (6), February, 2015).