Feynman Lectures - Anything similar for Mathematics?

converting1

Last year I got volume 1-3 of the Feynman lectures but as a soon mathematics major I think it'd be appropriate to read more mathematics lectures (and more enjoyable). Is there anything similar I could ask for for my upcoming birthday?

Thanks,

oli4

Hi converting1,
it's quite hard to match 'similar' it all depends on what you mean/expect.
If you haven't heard about it by now, I'd recommend having a look at Michael Spivak books, I don't know if they will meet your specific expectations, but there is no way they will be any kind of a bad gift for your birthday :)
cheers...

espen180

Bourbaki.

converting1

I'm just looking for something which really underlies the foundations of mathematics, something rigorous with a lot of proofs, but still requires a proficiency in mathematics. Here is what I've studied so far:

Factor, remainder theorm
Algebraic Division
Definite intergration
Coordinate Geometry and Further Differenciation
Trigonometry
Geometric Series
More Differenciation: Product,Quotient,Chain rule
Trigonemetric manipulation: Double angles, Half angles, reciprocol functions
Mappings and Functions
Implicit Differenciation
Parametric equations
Further Integration: Substitution, Recognation, Integration by parts
Partial Fractions
Vectors
Matrices
Proof by induction
Series
Basic conics
Numerical Techniques, iteration etc
Complex Numbers
Further Complex numbers: Loci,De Movrie, Roots of Unity etc
1st Order Differencial Equations
2nd Order Differncial Equations
Polars
Further Series
Roots
Taylor expansions
Hyperbolic functions; inverses etc
Further coordinate systems: Equations for an ellipse, loci, parametric equations for a hyperbola & ellipse etc tangents normals etc,
Differentiating hyperbolic functions, inverses & trigonometric functions
Integration - standard integrals, integrating expressions with hyperbolic functions, integrating inverse trigonometric and hyperbolic functions
Further vectors- triple scalar product, writing the equation of a plane in the scalar, vector or Cartesian form.
Further Matrix algebra; determinant, inverse of 3x3 matrix, linear transformations etc

when working through the topics above I would really have to attempt the proofs myself, and if I couldn't do it it'd take a while to be able to find a proof online, so it'd be nice to have it all summarized in a book or so

mindheavy

Are you referring to this book?

http://www.amazon.com/Bourbaki-A-Sec.../dp/0821839675

espen180

No, to their collection of 9 series of books, each cosisting of about 3 books on a given area of mathematics.

micromass

He was making a joke. Don't buy Bourbaki's books lol.

converting1

why?

DrummingAtom

lol!

micromass

They're not very suitable for beginners. And they're quite difficult to read through. It's more like an encyclopedia than a textbook.

mindheavy

does anyone have an opinion on this dover book?

Mathematics: It's Content, Methods and Meaning

converting1

oh ok,

any other suggestions?

micromass

That's a very good book. The OP might want to look at this one.

Other nice books are:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...mp%2Caps%2C281

and of course

http://www.amazon.com/Calculus-4th-M...eywords=Spivak

converting1

I've heard a lot of Spivak, do you think it would be suitable given my previous background? (second post)

micromass

I think it might be worth to try it. You already know a lot of calculus (derivatives, series, integrals, etc.), so that won't be the problem. The hard part of Spivak is going to be the rigor and the proofs. The first two or three chapters are going to be very easy things you know already, but you should make the exercises to get used to the proofs involved. If you can't get used to proofs, then you might want to look at a proof book.

That said: Spivak has a reputation for having very hard exercises. Don't be discouraged by this.

But yes, I should try the book if I were you!

converting1

thanks, I'll be sure to get it.

Also, I hear most undergraduate textbooks don't have any answers attached, wouldn't this be a problem if it has very hard exercises?

micromass

If I'm not mistaken, Spivak gives some solutions (but not all) at the end of the text.