A Mathematical Journey

By Stanley P. Gudder

Book Overview

This survey of contemporary topics in mathematics aims to encourage students to question, experiment and discover. Each section contains exercises at three levels. This edition includes five new... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0070251304
• ISBN13: 9780070251304
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill College
• Length: 622 Pages
• Weight: 2.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

deminishes - if not totaly eliminates - "math anxiety" for most students

I taught a math course using this book and found it to be an excellent text. While giving an introductory glimps in a variety of topics in mathematics it shows that math is in every aspect of our lives and deminishes - if not totaly eliminates - "math anxiety" for most students. Making math fun by the choice of topics, intriguing bits of math concepts and funny exercises - without going into them in depth - it provides a non-threatening overview of mathematics. If one enjoy a particular topic this encourages one to look elsewhere for more. Also, the fact that some of the most intriguing bits of math are not always the most useful, makes math more like solving a crossword puzzle, rather than a chore; thus, bringing it to the level of daily life, it is the best application of all, for this book. The purpose of this book is two fold: (1) To provide a non-scientific, non-threatening overview of math and; (2) To provide an introduction for many math topics to, hopefully, instill a desire to go further in the study of math and to look elsewhere. I found that ALL of my students have lost their "math anxiety" by the end of the semester and while they did not all fall-in-love with math, some actually felt good enough about it to change their majors to math/science fields.

A Good Intro, But Only an Intro

I recently graded an introductory math course which used this book. In general, it was a good text. It gives a taste of a variety of topics in mathematics. It makes it fun, by choosing intriguing bits of math and having fun and sometimes funny exercises. However, its strengths are also weaknesses. It doesn't go into depth in any topic, so if you enjoy any particular topic you'll need to look elsewhere for more. Also, the most intriguing bits of math are not always the most useful. It teaches bits of math that don't have any applications at all. Finally, the book does not always phrase its problems clearly. It will sometimes phrase a problem in such a way that two solutions could correctly answer it--but it will only present one in the back.Overall, a good choice for an introduction to those who have no desire to go further in their study of math. For any other purpose, look elsewhere.