Looking for a rigorous analysis textbook

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding a suitable rigorous analysis textbook for a mathematics undergraduate student preparing for future analysis courses. Participants share recommendations and considerations regarding the level of rigor, content coverage, and suitability for self-study.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire for a rigorous treatment of real analysis, including limits, sequences, derivatives, and integrals, and seeks a book suitable for self-study.
  • Another participant suggests Bourbaki as a rigorous option but notes that it may not suit everyone's taste and could be extensive.
  • A different participant mentions that their university uses self-made books, making it difficult to follow standard recommendations.
  • One suggestion includes a free online resource, which is noted as reliable.
  • Several participants recommend specific books, including Spivak's "Calculus" and Shilov's "Elementary Real and Complex Analysis," highlighting their suitability for beginners in rigorous mathematics.
  • Barry Simon's textbook series is also recommended as a favorite among some participants.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing views on which textbooks are appropriate, with no consensus on a single recommendation. Some participants advocate for specific titles while others express caution about the difficulty of certain texts.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention varying levels of rigor and personal preferences regarding textbook presentation, indicating that the choice of a textbook may depend on individual learning styles and backgrounds.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for undergraduate mathematics students seeking recommendations for rigorous analysis textbooks, particularly those preparing for advanced courses or self-study.

member 587159
Hello all. I'm a mathematics undergrad student who finished his first university year succesfully. I got courses of calculus, but these weren't very rigorous. I did learn about stuff like epsilon and delta proofs but we never made exercises on those things. The theory I saw contained proofs but the main goal of the course was to succesfully learn to solve integrals (line integrals, surface integrals, double integrals, volume integrals, ...), solve differential equations, etc.

I already took proof based courses like linear algebra and group theory, so I think I am ready to start to learn rigorous real analysis, so I'm looking for a book that suits me.

I want the book to contain the following topics:

The usual analysis stuff:

- a construction of ##\mathbb{R}## or a system that takes ##\mathbb{R}## axiomatically for granted
- rigorous treatment of limits, sequences, derivatives, series, integrals
- the book can be about single variable analysis, but this is no requirement
- exercises to practice (I want certainly be able to prove things using epsilon and delta definitions after reading and working through the book)

Other requirements:

- The book must be suited for self study (I have 3 months until the next school year starts, and I want to be able to prepare for the analysis courses).

I have heard about the books 'Real numbers and real analysis' by Ethan D. Block and 'Principles of mathematical analysis' by Walter Rudin, and those seem to be good books. I have also heard these books are very hard to start with, so maybe I need something easier to start with.

Can someone hint me towards a good book? If you want me to add information, feel free to leave a comment.
 
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If you are looking for rigor, then Bourbaki automatically comes to mind:
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/what-is-a-tensor-comments.917927/#post-5788263
However, you should have a look beforehand as it is not everybody's taste, the way they present mathematics. And it might be quite a few instead of one. Shouldn't it be the best to follow the books used at your university(-ies)? Personally I only know those used at my university which are rather basic (and in the wrong language), or one from Hewitt, Stromberg, which might be a bit too abstract, as it is centered around measure algebras.
 
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fresh_42 said:
If you are looking for rigor, then Bourbaki automatically comes to mind:
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/what-is-a-tensor-comments.917927/#post-5788263
However, you should have a look beforehand as it is not everybody's taste, the way they present mathematics. And it might be quite a few instead of one. Shouldn't it be the best to follow the books used at your university(-ies)? Personally I only know those used at my university which are rather basic (and in the wrong language), or one from Hewitt, Stromberg, which might be a bit too abstract, as it is centered around measure algebras.

My university uses self made books, so that wouldn't be an option unfortunately.
 
How about this one:
http://www.cmls.polytechnique.fr/perso/laszlo/webTC/polymat311.pdf

Looks promising: reliable source and for free.

Another idea is to go to the bookstore where students usually buy their natural sciences and mathematics books and ask for a standard book for real analysis. I would also prepare a list of topics you definitely want to find (quickly) in those books, which might be partitioned as "Real Analysis I" (in one variable), "Real Analysis II" (in n variables), "Complex Analysis", "Differential analysis", "Integration" or similar. I'd like to make a list for you, but it would get very long. Guess that's why the Bourbaki link above contains several books.
 
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i recommend spivak's calculus.
 
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Maybe Shilov: Elementary Real and Complex Analysis?

If you have never gone through a rigorous math book before. It would be better to pick up something like Spivak. To get aquainted with reading and writing proofs.
 
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Barry Simon's textbook series: A Comprehensive Course in Analysis. Amazing; it's probably one of my favorites if not my most loved.
 
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