The Mathematical Gazette

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Book Recommendations:

The authors write with a strong narrative thrust and a sensitive appreciation of the needs of the average student so that, by the final chapter, there is a real feeling of having 'gotten somewhere worth getting' by a sensibly paced, clearly signposted route. (from Amazon)

Linear Functional Analysis (Springer Undergraduate Mathematics Series) book cover

by Bryan P. Rynne, Martin A. Youngson·You?

This book provides an introduction to the ideas and methods of linear fu- tional analysis at a level appropriate to the ?nal year of an undergraduate course at a British university. The prerequisites for reading it are a standard undergraduate knowledge of linear algebra and real analysis (including the t- ory of metric spaces). Part of the development of functional analysis can be traced to attempts to ?nd a suitable framework in which to discuss di?erential and integral equations. Often, the appropriate setting turned out to be a vector space of real or complex-valued functions de?ned on some set. In general, such a v- tor space is in?nite-dimensional. This leads to di?culties in that, although many of the elementary properties of ?nite-dimensional vector spaces hold in in?nite-dimensional vector spaces, many others do not. For example, in general in?nite-dimensionalvectorspacesthereisnoframeworkinwhichtomakesense of analytic concepts such as convergence and continuity. Nevertheless, on the spaces of most interest to us there is often a norm (which extends the idea of the length of a vector to a somewhat more abstract setting). Since a norm on a vector space gives rise to a metric on the space, it is now possible to do analysis in the space. As real or complex-valued functions are often called functionals, the term functional analysis came to be used for this topic. We now brie?y outline the contents of the book.

Professor Coxeter's textbook presents the fundamental principles in a clear, readable manner. It should be the standard textbook on non-Euclidean geometry for a long time to come. (from Amazon)

The name non-Euclidean was used by Gauss to describe a system of geometry which differs from Euclid's in its properties of parallelism. Such a system was developed independently by Bolyai in Hungary and Lobatschewsky in Russia, about 120 years ago. Another system, differing more radically from Euclid's, was suggested later by Riemann in Germany and Cayley in England. The subject was unified in 1871 by Klein, who gave the names of parabolic, hyperbolic, and elliptic to the respective systems of Euclid-Bolyai-Lobatschewsky, and Riemann-Cayley. Since then, a vast literature has accumulated. The Fifth edition adds a new chapter, which includes a description of the two families of 'mid-lines' between two given lines, an elementary derivation of the basic formulae of spherical trigonometry and hyperbolic trigonometry, a computation of the Gaussian curvature of the elliptic and hyperbolic planes, and a proof of Schlafli's remarkable formula for the differential of the volume of a tetrahedron.

This is a very welcome addition. The main message of the book is that the only way to learn to solve problems is to solve problems! I found this book very helpful. I am quite sure the book will be in constant use and I have no hesitation in recommending it. (from Amazon)

The purpose of this book is to isolate and draw attention to the most important problem-solving techniques typically encountered in undergradu­ ate mathematics and to illustrate their use by interesting examples and problems not easily found in other sources. Each section features a single idea, the power and versatility of which is demonstrated in the examples and reinforced in the problems. The book serves as an introduction and guide to the problems literature (e.g., as found in the problems sections of undergraduate mathematics journals) and as an easily accessed reference of essential knowledge for students and teachers of mathematics. The book is both an anthology of problems and a manual of instruction. It contains over 700 problems, over one-third of which are worked in detail. Each problem is chosen for its natural appeal and beauty, but primarily to provide the context for illustrating a given problem-solving method. The aim throughout is to show how a basic set of simple techniques can be applied in diverse ways to solve an enormous variety of problems. Whenever possible, problems within sections are chosen to cut across expected course boundaries and to thereby strengthen the evidence that a single intuition is capable of broad application. Each section concludes with "Additional Examples" that point to other contexts where the technique is appropriate.

In his introduction the author expresses the hope that he can instill good working attitudes that will help students go on to research in group theory, Lie groups, differential geometry and topology. The naturalness and sophistication of his development go far to fulfilling his aim...The book is produced to a very high standard. Both graphics and text are exceptionally clear. (from Amazon)

This book gives a rigorous treatment of the fundamentals of plane geometry: Euclidean, spherical, elliptical and hyperbolic. The primary purpose is to acquaint the reader with the classical results of plane Euclidean and nonEuclidean geometry, congruence theorems, concurrence theorems, classification of isometries, angle addition and trigonometrical formulae. However, the book not only provides students with facts about and an understanding of the structure of the classical geometries, but also with an arsenal of computational techniques for geometrical investigations. The aim is to link classical and modern geometry to prepare students for further study and research in group theory, Lie groups, differential geometry, topology, and mathematical physics. The book is intended primarily for undergraduate mathematics students who have acquired the ability to formulate mathematical propositions precisely and to construct and understand mathematical arguments. Some familiarity with linear algebra and basic mathematical functions is assumed, though all the necessary background material is included in the appendices.

This fascinating book... gives a full, vivid and exciting account of its subject, as far as this can be done without using too much advanced theory. (from Amazon)

An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers (Oxford Mathematics) book cover

by G. H. Hardy, Edward M. Wright, Andrew Wiles, Roger Heath-Brown, Joseph Silverman·You?

An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers by G. H. Hardy and E. M. Wright is found on the reading list of virtually all elementary number theory courses and is widely regarded as the primary and classic text in elementary number theory. Developed under the guidance of D. R. Heath-Brown, this Sixth Edition of An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers has been extensively revised and updated to guide today's students through the key milestones and developments in number theory. Updates include a chapter by J. H. Silverman on one of the most important developments in number theory -- modular elliptic curves and their role in the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem -- a foreword by A. Wiles, and comprehensively updated end-of-chapter notes detailing the key developments in number theory. Suggestions for further reading are also included for the more avid reader. The text retains the style and clarity of previous editions making it highly suitable for undergraduates in mathematics from the first year upwards as well as an essential reference for all number theorists.