Introduction to Mathematical Structures and Proofs (Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics) - Hardcover

Gerstein, Larry J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1461442648 ISBN 13: 9781461442646

Publisher: Springer, 2012

Synopsis

Reviews of the first edition: "...Gerstein wants-very gently-to teach his students to think. He wants to show them how to wrestle with a problem (one that is more sophisticated than "plug and chug"), how to build a solution, and ultimately he wants to teach the students to take a statement and develop a way to prove it...Gerstein writes with a certain flair that I think students will find appealing. For instance, after his discussion of cardinals he has a section entitled Languages and Finite Automata. This allows him to illustrate some of the ideas he has been discussing with problems that almost anyone can understand, but most importantly he shows how these rather transparent problems can be subjected to a mathematical analysis. His discussion of how a machine might determine whether the sequence of words "Celui fromage de la parce que maintenant" is a legitimate French sentence is just delightful (and even more so if one knows a little French.)...I am confident that a student who works through Gerstein's book will really come away with (i) some mathematical technique, and (ii) some mathematical knowledge. -Steven Krantz, American Mathematical Monthly "This very elementary book is intended to be a textbook for a one-term course which introduces students into the basic notions of any higher mathematics courses...The explanations of the basic notions are combined with some main theorems, illustrated by examples (with solutions if necessary) and complemented by exercises. The book is well written and should be easily understandable to any beginning student." -S. Gottwald, Zentralblatt This textbook is intended for a one-term course whose goal is to ease the transition from lower-division calculus courses to upper-division courses in linear and abstract algebra, real and complex analysis, number theory, topology, combinatorics, etc. It contains a wide-ranging assortment of examples and imagery to motivate and to enhance the underlying intuitions, as well as numerous exercises and a solutions manual for professors. The new material in this second edition includes four more topics in number theory, a brief introduction to complex numbers, and a section on graph theory and combinatorial topics related to graphs. Introducing these additional topics gives the reader an even broader view of the mathematical experience.

About this title

From the Back Cover

As a student moves from basic calculus courses into upper-division courses in linear and abstract algebra, real and complex analysis, number theory, topology, and so on, a "bridge" course can help ensure a smooth transition. Introduction to Mathematical Structures and Proofs is a textbook intended for such a course, or for self-study.  This book introduces an array of fundamental mathematical structures. It also explores the delicate balance of intuition and rigor―and the flexible thinking―required to prove a nontrivial result.  In short, this book seeks to enhance the mathematical maturity of the reader.

 The new material in this second edition includes a section on graph theory, several new sections on number theory (including primitive roots, with an application to card-shuffling), and a brief introduction to the complex numbers (including a section on the arithmetic of the Gaussian integers). Solutions for even numbered exercises are available on springer.com for instructors adopting the text for a course. 

From a review of the first edition:

"...Gerstein wants―very gently―to teach his students to think. He wants to show them how to wrestle with a problem (one that is more sophisticated than "plug and chug"), how to build a solution, and ultimately he wants to teach the students to take a statement and develop a way to prove it...Gerstein writes with a certain flair that I think students will find appealing. ...I am confident that a student who works through Gerstein's book will really come away with (i) some mathematical technique, and (ii) some mathematical knowledge....

Gerstein’s book states quite plainly that the text is designed for use in a transitions course.  Nothing benefits a textbook author more than having his goals clearly in mind, and Gerstein’s book achieves its goals.  I would be happy to use it in a transitions course.”

―Steven Krantz, American Mathematical Monthly

About the Author

Larry Gerstein's primary areas of research have been in quadratic forms and number theory and he has published extensively in these areas. The author's first edition of "Introduction to Mathematical Structures and Proofs" has sold to date (8/2/2010) over 6000 copies and has gone through 5 printings. Gerstein himself has a transition course at UC, Santa Barbara (Math 8-A transition to higher mathematics) from his book since its first publication date. The first edition also received 2 glowing reviews by Steve Krantz for the American Mathematical Monthly, and S. Gottwald for Zentralblatt.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1461442648
• ISBN 13: 9781461442646
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 414