Introduction to Mathematical Structures and Proofs

By Larry J. Gerstein

Book Overview

As a student moves from basic calculus courses into upper-division courses in linear and abstract algebra, real and complex analysis, number theory, topology, and so on, a "bridge" course can help ensure a smooth transition. Introduction to Mathematical Structures and Proofs is a textbook intended for such a course, or for self-study. This book introduces an array of fundamental mathematical structures. It also explores the delicate balance of intuition and rigor--and the flexible thinking--required to prove a nontrivial result. In short, this book seeks to enhance the mathematical maturity of the reader. The new material in this second edition includes a section on graph theory, several new sections on number theory (including primitive roots, with an application to card-shuffling), and a brief introduction to the complex numbers (including a section on the arithmetic of the Gaussian integers). Solutions for even numbered exercises are available on springer.com forinstructors adopting the text for a course. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 076370203X
• ISBN13: 9780763702038
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 350 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Good intro for beginning

Before this book, I was still wondering through a maze of nonsensical calculus textbooks and couldn't get myself out of that trap. I think this book is a good start for going further in math. This book is clearly written and makes me think clearly, relative to other too concise books. Now I know what's going on when proofs are present in books. It's worth a buy. Also, selected exericise solutions are just enough to get the...