Questions tagged [textbooks]
Questions about comparison of textbooks, the use of textbooks in mathematical education, requests about textbooks dealing with a specific topic in a specific way.
196
questions
-3
votes
3answers
670 views
Why so many single-variable calculus textbooks? But still no equivalents to Visual Group Theory or Complex Analysis for other subjects?
OUP published Visual Complex Analysis in 1999. MAA published Visual Group Theory in 2009. But no visualization counterparts have been published for other subjects like (Commutative) Algebra, ...
9
votes
1answer
536 views
Looking for copies of Vasily Vasilovich Davydov's mathematics curriculum
From The Development of Algebra in the Elementary Mathematics Curriculum of V.V. Davydov (by
Jean Schmittau, State University of New York at Binghamton
, and Anne Morris , University of Delaware ) one ...
0
votes
3answers
164 views
Highly intuitive yet comprehensive and easily readable (student friendly) book on linear algebra which do not focus much on applications, just basics
I came to know about Gilbert Strang's two books, "Introduction to Linear Algebra" and "Linear Algebra and its Applications". The first is the one used as the text in the 18.06 ...
6
votes
5answers
1k views
How do math professors select textbooks?
I will describe what I mean by the above with an example.
Suppose you are a professor, about to teach a first Calculus course in a university. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of calculus books out ...
4
votes
2answers
107 views
Textbooks with solutions and catering to different circumstances
Questions: Are we really taking students into account FULLY when writing textbooks for various areas? Also, are we being unintentionally elitist or dismissive when neglecting to take a more humble ...
1
vote
2answers
122 views
Arithmetical Progression
I recently came across a very old Algebra textbook from the 1860s, and on the chapter discussing "arithmetical progression", it says there are "20 cases for arithmetical progression&...
2
votes
1answer
158 views
When and where were textbooks that use set notation for basic algebra solutions?
A past question described a school where many teachers insisted that answers to algebra problems had to be phrased in set-theoretic language or notation. For example, when asked to solve $2x+3=6−x$, ...
0
votes
2answers
157 views
manual solutions to graduate textbooks [closed]
Where can I find manual solution for textbooks like Advanced Linear Algebra by Rotman or Introduction to Smooth manifolds by Lee? any help would be appreciated
2
votes
2answers
243 views
Looking for rigorous books to review geometry, trig, and precalculus
I've taken Calculus 1 and it's time to relearn because I've forgotten some of it. But it's been a couple months since I've done any solid mathematics. I was hoping for a book that would include ...
2
votes
1answer
145 views
An intuitive (non rigorous) text book on graph theory which is student friendly with vivid illustrations
Background
Hello, I am an undergraduate in CS. I would like to study Graph Theory on my own (self-study) for a competitive examination (named GATE). It is an examination for undergraduates and as such,...
1
vote
2answers
196 views
Should I do all the proof practice problems in How to Prove It, an intro to proofs book?
Like the title says. I am self studying intro to proofs(How to prove it by velleman) so I can start an introduction to analysis. I am wondering if I should complete all the exercises in the textbook(...
5
votes
7answers
656 views
What is a good second book in high school geometry?
I have been looking at questions on Math Stack Exchange and I am frequently coming across topics that sound as if they could have been optional chapters in a high school geometry class, but I have ...
5
votes
2answers
214 views
Why are most college level math textbooks black and white only?
Why are higher level math textbooks almost completely black and white? I can't think of any math textbooks on a subject more advanced than calculus that uses colors. Edited to add that the comments by ...
10
votes
2answers
3k views
Why are all educational textbooks copyrighted? ©
I had an idea to improve education in my country with the help of textbooks by popular authors. I thought to publish videos on YouTube with comments and practical explanations about what the author ...
7
votes
1answer
410 views
What famous graduate math textbooks use color?
I know that undergrad math books use colors, like Gilbert Strang in his undergrad Linear Algebra textbooks and Measure, Integration & Real Analysis by Sheldon Axler. Many first year calculus ...
3
votes
0answers
50 views
Material and textbooks for CLIL learners
I have a quite broad questions. I'm a math teacher in Switzerland (high school level, school year 9-12). We teach following topics (among others): quadratic equations, quadratic functions, system of ...
4
votes
2answers
133 views
What determines whether a textbook publishes all solutions to exercises?
Robert Ash (1935-2015) touts in the Preface to Real Variables with Basic Metric Space Topology,
I rely especially on one of the most useful of all learning devices: the inclusion of detailed ...
1
vote
2answers
233 views
How can I convince authors to publish the Instructor's Solution Manual to students?
This question applies to solely books already accompanied by an ISM ("Instructor's Solution Manual) — access is restricted to instructors. Some don't even sell a SSM (Students' Solution Manual) ...
-1
votes
1answer
101 views
Math elementary textbooks [closed]
I’m a master student in Turkey. I’m researching math textbooks from different counties to compare them for my thesis. However, it is really difficult to find them. I need your suggestions. Or is there ...
4
votes
1answer
248 views
Looking for a calculus books with very specific requirements
I plan to record lectures for a MOOC on Calculus sometime next year. The MOOC is targeted at an undergraduate audience that comprises engineers, math majors as well as majors in the sciences, etc. ...
7
votes
4answers
347 views
Statistics, for the mathematically rigorous
I don't know where I can find a rigorous statistics course or textbook. The closest thing I can think of is measure-theoretic probability theory, but I wouldn't really call that "statistics"....
2
votes
0answers
72 views
Reference request for 1960s-1970s Australia/NZ primary-level textbooks
Where could I find a list, and ideally discussion, of primary school mathematics schemes (textbook series) in common use in Australia and New Zealand in the period immediately following decimalization ...
7
votes
2answers
281 views
Single variable complex analysis textbook which uses differential forms
Is there any single variable complex analysis textbook which uses $\textrm{d}\bar{z}$?
Every single variable text I have found defines what a complex line integral with respect to $\textrm{d}z$ means, ...
5
votes
1answer
437 views
Choice of textbook for an undergraduate abstract algebra course
Currently a 5th year PhD student, and I've been fighting tooth and nail to teach one of our junior-year honors sections in undergraduate algebra next fall (desperately hopeful we'll be able to return ...
1
vote
2answers
139 views
Where can I find a good course on tensor calculus not focused on applications and physics?
Where can I find a good course on tensor/ricci calculus not focused on applications and physics?
I've been running into lots of tensor-theoretic stuff in differential geometry, so I don't know if ...
2
votes
2answers
557 views
Teaching Mathematics to a Younger Sibling
I always wanted to teach my siblings mathematics, and one, ten years of age, is particularly eager. For the purposes of specializing recommendations, I will add he can use arithmetic up to ...
3
votes
3answers
233 views
Applications of abstract algebra outside of mathematics and suitable textbook
The question What are some good mathematical applications to present in an abstract algebra course? asks about mathematical applications of abstract algebra.
What are some applications of abstract ...
14
votes
7answers
10k views
Why don’t American school textbooks recognize negative numbers as whole numbers?
Looking up for definition for whole numbers on Google yields a result which mentions:
The whole numbers are also called the positive integers (or the nonnegative integers, if zero is included).
I ...
0
votes
0answers
125 views
Have you ever completely covered every topic in a textbook, and if so, which text?
Over the years of being a student or of being a teacher, it's occurred to me that I've never done every topic in a textbook. If it's a workbook that has a few introductory theory pages and then a few ...
3
votes
1answer
239 views
Is there an arithmetic book similar to “Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons” by Siegfried Engelmann?
I have found Engelmann’s book (mentioned in subject) to be extremely effective. Is there an equivalent to this book for teaching Arithmetic? I believe the overall approach or method is called Direct ...
3
votes
1answer
438 views
How much literature research should one do when designing a course?
For each mathematical subject on the undergraduate level there are many textbooks, often with quite different approaches to the subject. Some are just concise and rigorous, some focus on examples, ...
1
vote
2answers
236 views
Are books as old as J.E. Thompson's “for the practical man” series outdated?
I'm sure Thompson's books were a fine series back in his time, but are they still worth recommending for, say, interested high-school students or prospective college students that want to brush up ...
1
vote
0answers
146 views
Would the SMSG textbooks provide adequate extracurricular study?
Context: I'm a Grade 11 IBDP student and very fond of math. Assuming that I get the spare time to self-study material alongside the syllabus, I wish to spend it constructively (the only step I've ...
5
votes
2answers
160 views
Introductory book or other resource on $p$-adic numbers/number theory/analysis
I am having problems understanding $p$-adic numbers/$p$-adic number theory/$p$-adic analysis. I have tried some notes on the internet, but these notes were not helpful.
Can anyone suggest a book, ...
1
vote
2answers
164 views
What are the resources to learn prerequisite knowledge to latter High school and undergrad prep textbooks?
I use textbook study and am planning on studying Spivak's Calculus, Mathematics It's Content, Methods, and Meaning, How to Prove it by Velleman, etc. However, I'm worried I lack the prerequisite ...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
Reference Request: Suitability of a text and corresponding video lecture series request for “Matroid Theory”
I am an undergraduate student from the CS background.
While reading a portion of the text "Introduction to Algorithms" by Cormen et. al. I came across a section of Matroids. I was unable to ...
3
votes
1answer
221 views
English translation of Sung-Dae Hong's The Art of Mathematics
The Art of Mathematics by Sung-Dae Hong is the standard high-school mathematics textbook in South Korea. The series gets new editions and reprints since 1966. Wikipedia has a page for it.
Had it ever ...
3
votes
4answers
322 views
Textbook to study group theory as a part of Discrete Mathematics
I am a student from CS background. I have been following "Discrete Mathematics and its Applications" by Kenneth Rosen, though it is a good book, but it does not cover group theory. I would like to ...
2
votes
1answer
123 views
Advanced textbook for vector fields [closed]
I am currently reading Spivak Calculus on Manifolds and Munkres Analysis on Manifolds. I am looking for a more advanced text, especially on vector fields as they relate to the great conserved fields ...
20
votes
5answers
2k views
What does it take to find a good math book for self study?
I'm 20 and I never learned math properly in my highschool. I found my interest in math last year and I've been searching for books since then.
I tried Khan academy but I have difficulty paying ...
3
votes
1answer
117 views
Dolciani and Sorgenfrey textbook collaboration
Would it be possible to get a complete list of math textbooks written jointly by Dr. Mary Dolciani and Dr. Robert Sorgenfrey?
I'm particularly interested in focusing on how they collaborated while ...
5
votes
2answers
721 views
Textbooks for an independent study in point-set topology
I am planning to sign up for an undergraduate "course" in point-set topology next semester. It is really an "independent study" in that this course will not have any lectures. It will just have two ...
5
votes
2answers
154 views
Is evaluating a Real Polynomial at a Complex Value a suitable task for Precalculus students?
In Korea, basically every teaching material for 10th grade math(about the level of precalculus) contains this kind of exercises in their first treatment of complex numbers:
Evaluate $f(x)=4x^4-8x^3+...
11
votes
2answers
191 views
2D drawings of 3D objects in printed school textbooks: orthogonal or perspective?
There is a tradition in the use of orthogonal projections to represent 3D objects in printed school math textbooks. On the other hand, perspective projections represent better the way as we "see" real ...
6
votes
1answer
100 views
Data on textbook adoptions in universities (math/science)
Does anybody know if there is a website/database/... on textbooks adoption in the US or some other country? (math/science textbooks)
It would be interesting to see which textbooks are (and have been) ...
8
votes
3answers
231 views
Evaluating textbooks in math and physics
I’m currently interested in textbooks, especially the ones in math and physics that are used at the high school, undergraduate and graduate levels and, given the experience of the people on this ...
8
votes
4answers
254 views
Reading old or ancient texts in mathematics
I am recently wondering whether it is a good idea to read old (or very old) books in mathematics. In high school level, some people suggest students who are interested in geometry to read Euclid's ...
3
votes
2answers
335 views
How to teach linear programming and reductions?
Do you know any textbook with problems+solutions to support teaching of linear programming and reductions, and in particular, cover standard and slack forms, formulation of problems as linear programs,...
3
votes
6answers
277 views
What do I study in calculus beyond the minimum required for undergraduate engineering?
I am majoring in aerospace engineering.
I love math a lot, especially calculus. I have a lot of free time right now and I want to learn more stuff in calculus that would be helpful for my major but I ...
3
votes
2answers
190 views
Which textbooks on College Algebra, Trigonometry, Pre-calculus, Calculus, Linear Algebra, ODE are written by world-class mathematicians?
For example, Trigonometry was written by Wolf-Prize winner Israel Gelfand, one of the top mathematicians in the 20th century. I am wondering if other world-class mathematicians have written textbooks ...
