Mathematical Proof - Books

hawaiifiver

Hello

Could anyone recommend a good introductory book for learning how to write mathematical proofs.

Thank you.

SolomonX

How to Prove It by Daniel Velleman

I'd post a link to Amazon but I have less than 10 posts. It's cheap but well written.

Voivode

Here's the link.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/052...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Dr Transport

how to solve it by polya

http://www.amazon.com/How-To-Solve-I...8237381&sr=1-1

mateomy

I'm using this right now....


http://www.amazon.com/Mathematical-P...8237764&sr=1-1


I've also read through....


http://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Proof...8237681&sr=1-1

which was decent. The formerly mentioned was/is much more structured though.

Have fun.

20Tauri

Are those appropriate for first proofs or for people who have some proof experience already? I've done proofs in linear algebra, number theory, etc. but I've never taken a discrete math or mathematical logic class. I know induction, contradiction, contraposition, and such, but I'd like to have some more experience before I take more rigorous courses like algebra and analysis this fall. (It's a long story, but I'm doing transitional coursework in grad school, and my university teaches proofs in the advanced sequences rather than in a separate logic class.)

Headacheguy

I liked the free Book of Proof, by Richard Hammack http://www.people.vcu.edu/~rhammack/...oof/index.html

The book will really ease you into the concepts behind the techniques of proof. Moreover, the exercises are great. You'll like it a lot if you're a complete beginner.

Cod

I second this book. I went from a novice to decent proof writer after reading Velleman's book.

theorem4.5.9

My proof writing class used Doing Mathematics: an introduction to proofs and problem solving by Steven Galovich.

However, I didn't particularly like the class or the book (though there are a lot of fun problems at the back of the book), not because either one was bad, but I didn't like learning how to prove things for its own sake. I got a better experience with proofs from abstract algebra and topology classes.

TheShrike

I don't know how helpful this is but I found it awhile back:

http://www.math.vt.edu/people/day/ProofsBook/

I'm not totally sure what level of mathematics is expected for it either, but someone might find it useful.

EulersFormula

Elementary Analysis: The Theory of Calculus, by Kenneth A. Ross

mathwonk

"If yer gonna be stoopid, ya gotta be tough"

I heard this as "life is hard; if you're stupid, it's really hard!"

oh yeah, proofs: i agree it is best to learn actual proofs of interesting things, but a tiny basic amount of logic (propositional calculus) helped me, from Principles of mathematics, chapter one I think.

hawaiifiver

Hello to all,

Wow this thread has really taken off. Thanks for all the suggestions. I actually bought Velleman's book. I just finished the first three chapters. It's really well written.

Good luck.