The Nature of Problem Solving in Geometry and Probability: A Liberal Arts Approach (with InfoTrac�): A Liberal Arts Approach (with InfoTrac�) - Hardcover

Smith, Karl

9780534421489: The Nature of Problem Solving in Geometry and Probability: A Liberal Arts Approach (with InfoTrac�): A Liberal Arts Approach (with InfoTrac�)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0534421482 ISBN 13: 9780534421489

Publisher: Brooks Cole, 1980

Liberal Arts mathematics books often cover much more material than can be addressed in a one-semester course. Karl Smith has created a solution to this problem with his new book: THE NATURE OF PROBLEM SOLVING IN GEOMETRY AND PROBABILITY. Loyal customers of Karl Smith’s books laud his clear writing, coverage of historical topics, selection of topics, and emphasis on problem solving. Based on the successful NATURE OF MATHEMATICS text, this new book is designed to give you only the chapters and information you need, when you need it. Smith takes great care to provide insight into precisely what mathematics is--the nature of mathematics--what it can accomplish, and how it is pursued as a human enterprise. At the same time, Smith emphasizes Polya’s problem-solving method throughout the text so students can take from the course an ability to estimate, calculate, and solve problems outside the classroom. Moreover, Smith’s writing style gives students the confidence and ability to function mathematically in their everyday lives. This new text emphasizes problem solving and estimation, which, along with numerous in-text study aids, encourage students to understand the concepts as well as mastering techniques.

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Review:

"I love the color, the pictures, the cartoons, the attempt to make the pages come alive. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, at least not by me."

"One of the strengths of this text is the Presentation of topics that are not always computational in nature. This involves letting students see topics that they do not typically view as being mathematical and explore concepts in ways other than by just pushing buttons on a calculator."

"Its the best book out there. We tried another book last semester just to be different and that was a disaster. So well...keep with NATURE OF MATHEMATICS."

"Itas the best book out there. We tried another book last semester just to be different and that was a disaster. So weall...keep with NATURE OF MATHEMATICS."

"I have found more than enough material in each exercise set that keeps my students' interest. In light of the fact that most...of my students are not interested in math or science, I have welcomed the sight of the many problems that are conceptual rather than computational in nature."

"Even though I do not teach geometry or metrics from your text, I wish I could. Your units on these topics are excellent, better than those in most other texts I've seen or used."

"It's the best book out there. We tried another book last semester just to be different and that was a disaster. So we'll...keep with NATURE OF MATHEMATICS."

About the Author:

Karl Smith is professor emeritus at Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, California. He has written over 36 mathematics textbooks and believes that students can learn mathematics if it is presented to them through the use of concrete examples designed to develop original thinking, abstraction, and problem-solving skills. Over one million students have learned mathematics from Karl Smith's textbooks.

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