Making Transcendence Transparent: An intuitive approach to classical transcendental number theory - Hardcover

Burger, Edward B.; Tubbs, Robert

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0387214445 ISBN 13: 9780387214443

Publisher: Springer, 2004

Synopsis

This is the first book that makes the difficult and important subject of transcendental number theory accessible to undergraduate mathematics students.

Edward Burger is one of the authors of The Heart of Mathematics, winner of a 2001 Robert W. Hamilton Book Award. He will also be awarded the 2004 Chauvenet Prize, one of the most prestigious MAA prizes for outstanding exposition.

About this title

Review:

From the reviews:

"Making Transcendence Transparent is one of those books that stand out from the crowd because the authors have put a lot of good work into it, and plenty of imagination and creativity. It is witty, funny at times, highly entertaining, very readable and interesting to both the casual and advanced reader. ... The text helps us understand the concepts by building a very strong intuition and also motivates the concepts from a historical point of view. ... Conclusion: read this one!" (Įlvaro Lozano-Robledo, MathDL, January, 2006)

"One of the goals of the authors is to provide the reader with an intuitive framework in which the major classical results of transcendental number theory can be appreciated. ... This book is an introduction to the subject which is supposed to enable the reader to pursue later his study with more modern results. ... An appendix provides basic facts from complex analysis which are required for the proofs. This book is aimed at beginners who like to have examples and detailed proofs." (Zentralblatt MATH, August, 2005)

"The book under review covers much wonderful material, heads in several directions, and could be used in many ways." (MAA reviews, D'Angelo, John P.)

From the Back Cover:

While the study of transcendental numbers is a fundamental pursuit within number theory, the general mathematics community is familiar only with its most elementary results. The aim of Making Transcendence Transparent is to introduce readers to the major "classical" results and themes of transcendental number theory and to provide an intuitive framework in which the basic principles and tools of transcendence can be understood. The text includes not just the myriad of technical details requisite for transcendence proofs, but also intuitive overviews of the central ideas of those arguments so that readers can appreciate and enjoy a panoramic view of transcendence. In addition, the text offers a number of excursions into the basic algebraic notions necessary for the journey. Thus the book is designed to appeal not only to interested mathematicians, but also to both graduate students and advanced undergraduates.

Edward Burger is Professor of Mathematics and Chair at Williams College. His research interests are in Diophantine analysis, and he is the author of over forty papers, books, and videos. The Mathematical Association of America has honored Burger on a number of occasions including, most recently, in awarding him the prestigious 2004 Chauvenet Prize.

Robert Tubbs is a Professor at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He has written numerous papers in transcendental number theory. Tubbs has held visiting positions at the Institute for Advanced Study, MSRI, and at Paris VI. He has recently completed a book on the cultural history of mathematical truth.

About this edition

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0387214445
• ISBN 13: 9780387214443
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 272