Any good book about mathematics?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for mathematics books, specifically focusing on Calculus and Geometry. Participants express their current knowledge and seek resources that can help them advance their understanding, including topics like Non-Euclidean Geometry, Differential Geometry, and Tensors.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks a textbook to advance their Calculus knowledge, mentioning familiarity with derivatives, integrals, and optimization techniques.
  • Another participant recommends Morris Kline's "Calculus: An Intuitive & Physical Approach" for its accessibility and coverage of key topics, while also mentioning Michael Spivak's book for its rigor and depth.
  • Spivak's book is noted to include infinite sequences and series, which Kline's does not, and is described as having more challenging problems.
  • For Geometry, one participant suggests Howard Eves' book for standard Euclidean geometry and Coxeter's "Geometry Revisited" for further study.
  • A participant mentions course notes that connect Non-Euclidean Geometry to special relativity as a potentially effective learning method, although no specific book is cited for this approach.
  • Another participant expresses a need for access to math e-books due to lack of library access.
  • Links to online resources for calculus and mathematics are shared by one participant as potentially useful.
  • A suggestion is made to check the Cambridge reading list for additional resources in mathematics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need for quality resources in Calculus and Geometry, but there are multiple recommendations and no consensus on a single best book. The discussion remains open with various viewpoints on preferred texts and approaches.

Contextual Notes

Participants express different levels of familiarity with mathematical concepts, which may influence their recommendations. There is also a mention of varying degrees of rigor in the suggested books, indicating that the appropriateness of each resource may depend on individual learning preferences.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of Calculus and Geometry, particularly those looking for book recommendations and online resources for self-study.

JasonRox
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I am looking to learn more about Calculus.

I have done High School Calculus.

I understand how to find the derivative, or definite integral(anti-derivative), in the following:

Quotient Rule
Chain Rule
Product Rule
Logs (10)
Trigonometry

I understand how to apply them, and there functions. (Maxima/Minima, Optimization)

I know about finding the area under the curves.

I need a textbook, or book with details, that will take me to the next level.

If possible, maybe list what the book includes.

Also, I am looking for a good book on Geometry. Any book that will allow me to study Non-Euclidean Geometry, Differential Geometry, and Tensors. They can be separate books of course.

Just to make things clear, I would like to learn Relativity. It sounds far-fetched, but if you so happen to know the best way, inform me. I'm not looking for the quickest way really; I am looking for the path in which I will understand and know what I am doing, and know what the numbers are telling me.

I learn quickly independently, so I recommend books that pick up the paste. This isn't to go fast, but merely so I don't get bored. I'm the type of person who enjoys it when the book leaves a few things out, and you somehow figure it out doing questions. If I don't figure it out, I simply look it up in another book.

THANKS!
 
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JasonRox said:
I am looking to learn more about Calculus.

I have done High School Calculus.

I understand how to find the derivative, or definite integral(anti-derivative), in the following:

Quotient Rule
Chain Rule
Product Rule
Logs (10)
Trigonometry

I understand how to apply them, and there functions. (Maxima/Minima, Optimization)

I know about finding the area under the curves.

I need a textbook, or book with details, that will take me to the next level.

If possible, maybe list what the book includes.
I really like Morris Kline's "Calculus: An Intuitive & Physical Approach". Another good one is the one by Michael Spivak, but I think it would seem really rigorous to someone in 1st year, but since you've already seen a bunch of calculus, maybe it won't be so scary. Kline's books includes the following: derivatives & related theorems (like product rule, etc), integrals (& related theorems for this too like int by parts, etc), the geometrical significance of the derivative & maxima/minima, trig functions & inverse trig functions, log/exp functions, polar coordinates. I think Kline's would be better for someone who hasn't seen calculus very much because it isn't as rigorous as Spivak's. Spivak's includes: derivatives & integrals with all the related theorems, infinite sequences & series (not included in Kline's). I find that the problems are a lot harder in this book; some of them are pretty long, even the ones where you just have to find a derivative, and he gives theorems to prove in the problems also. Since you want to go fast, maybe you should check out Spivak's, but if it's too fast, try Kline's.

Also, I am looking for a good book on Geometry. Any book that will allow me to study Non-Euclidean Geometry, Differential Geometry, and Tensors. They can be separate books of course.
I think the one by Howard Eves is the standard Euclidean geometry book. After that one, do Coxeter's 'Geometry Revisited'. As for Non-Euclidean, I was given some course notes that derived everything in Non-Euclidean from special relativity, and I don't know of any book that does it that way. The prof said it's works out to be the fastest way to do non-Euclidean that he knows of.
 
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I'm in about the same situation as Jason. Does anyone know where I can get math e-books. I currently have no access to a library.
 
These may be interesting

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Mathematics/18-013ACalculus-with-ApplicationsFall2001/Readings/index.htm

http://archives.math.utk.edu/visual.calculus/

http://www.math.temple.edu/~cow/
 
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Have you tried the Cambridge reading list?
I think it is quite nice, bothe the 'readable maths' part and the 'history of maths' part. :smile:
 

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