Mathematician's Delight

Description

"Recommended with confidence" by The Times Literary Supplement, this lively survey starts with simple arithmetic and algebra and proceeds by gradual steps through graphs, logarithms, and trigonometry to calculus and the world of numbers. Generations of readers have found it the ideal introduction to mathematics, offering accessible explanations of how theory arises from real-life applications. "The main object of this book is to dispel the fear of mathematics," declares author W. W. Sawyer, adding that "Many people regard mathematicians as a race apart, possessed of almost supernatural powers. While this is very flattering for successful mathematicians, it is very bad for those who, for one reason or another, are attempting to learn the subject." Now retired, Sawyer won international renown for his innovative teaching methods, which he used at colleges in England and Scotland as well as Africa, New Zealand, and North America. His insights into the pleasures and practicalities of mathematics will appeal to readers of all backgrounds. Cover Dover Books on Mathematics Title page Copyright © 2007 CONTENTS PART I - THE APPROACH TO MATHEMATICS CHAPTER 1 - THE DREAD OF MATHEMATICS CHAPTER 2 - GEOMETRY - THE SCIENCE OF FURNITURE AND WALLS CHAPTER 3 - THE NATURE OF REASONING CHAPTER 4 - THE STRATEGY AND TACTICS OF STUDY PART II - ON CERTAIN PARTS OF MATHEMATICS CHAPTER 5 - ARITHMETIC CHAPTER 6 - HOW TO FORGET THE MULTIPLICATION TABLE CHAPTER 7 - ALGEBRA - THE SHORTHAND OF MATHEMATICS CHAPTER 8 - WAYS OF GROWING CHAPTER 9 - GRAPHS, OR THINKING IN PICTURES CHAPTER 10 - DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS-THE STUDY OF SPEED CHAPTER 11 - FROM SPEED TO CURVES CHAPTER 12 - OTHER PROBLEMS OF CALCULUS* CHAPTER 13 - TRIGONOMETRY, OR HOW TO MAKE TUNNELS AND MAPS chapter 14 - ON BACKGROUNDS CHAPTER 15 - THE SQUARE ROOT OF MINUS ONE INDEX Dover Books on Recreational Math Back Cover