A Texas Style Introduction To Proof

A TeXas Style Introduction to Proof is an IBL textbook designed for a one-semester course on proofs (the “bridge course”) that also introduces TeX as a tool students can use to communicate their work. As befitting “textless” text, the book is, as one reviewer characterized it, “minimal.” Written in an easy-going style, the exposition is just enough to support the activities, and it is clear, concise, and effective. The book is well organized and contains ample carefully selected exercises that are varied, interesting, and probing, without being discouragingly difficult.

This book is an introduction to the language and standard proof methods of mathematics. It is a bridge from the computational courses (such as calculus or differential equations) that students typically encounter in their first year of college to a more abstract outlook. It lays a foundation for more theoretical courses such as topology, analysis and abstract algebra. Although it may be more meaningful to the student who has had some calculus, there is really no prerequisite other than a measure of mathematical maturity.

The book is intended for students who want to learn how to prove theorems and be better prepared for the rigors required in more advance mathematics. One of the key components in this textbook is the development of a methodology to lay bare the structure underpinning the construction of a proof, much as diagramming a sentence lays bare its grammatical structure. Diagramming a proof is a way of presenting the relationships between the various parts of a proof. A proof diagram provides a tool for showing students how to write correct mathematical proofs.

According to the great mathematician Paul Erdös, God maintains perfect mathematical proofs in The Book. This book presents the authors candidates for such "perfect proofs," those which contain brilliant ideas, clever connections, and wonderful observations, bringing new insight and surprising perspectives to problems from number theory, geometry, analysis, combinatorics, and graph theory. As a result, this book will be fun reading for anyone with an interest in mathematics.

This is the eBook of the printed book and may not include any media, website access codes, or print supplements that may come packaged with the bound book. For courses in undergraduate Analysis and Transition to Advanced Mathematics. Analysis with an Introduction to Proof, Fifth Edition helps fill in the groundwork students need to succeed in real analysis—often considered the most difficult course in the undergraduate curriculum. By introducing logic and emphasizing the structure and nature of the arguments used, this text helps students move carefully from computationally oriented courses to abstract mathematics with its emphasis on proofs. Clear expositions and examples, helpful practice problems, numerous drawings, and selected hints/answers make this text readable, student-oriented, and teacher- friendly.

Proofs and Refutations is for those interested in the methodology, philosophy and history of mathematics.

Proofs and Ideas serves as a gentle introduction to advanced mathematics for students who previously have not had extensive exposure to proofs. It is intended to ease the student's transition from algorithmic mathematics to the world of mathematics that is built around proofs and concepts. The spirit of the book is that the basic tools of abstract mathematics are best developed in context and that creativity and imagination are at the core of mathematics. So, while the book has chapters on statements and sets and functions and induction, the bulk of the book focuses on core mathematical ideas and on developing intuition. Along with chapters on elementary combinatorics and beginning number theory, this book contains introductory chapters on real analysis, group theory, and graph theory that serve as gentle first exposures to their respective areas. The book contains hundreds of exercises, both routine and non-routine. This book has been used for a transition to advanced mathematics courses at California State University, Northridge, as well as for a general education course on mathematical reasoning at Krea University, India.

Knots are familiar objects. Yet the mathematical theory of knots quickly leads to deep results in topology and geometry. This work offers an introduction to this theory, starting with our understanding of knots. It presents the applications of knot theory to modern chemistry, biology and physics.