Mastering Analysis: Tips, Suggestions & Advice for Struggling Students

[quasar_4]

I am finding my introductory analysis class to be much harder for me than abstract or linear algebra or geometry, etc. I feel like my experience writing proofs doesn't help me at all! It doesn't help that we don't have homework due in the course, just exams, and we're using pdf notes instead of a real textbook (so I can't just do problems and check in the back).

I've picked up a copy of Wade's Intro. to Analysis to read on the side for help, just wondering if anyone can recommend any other useful sources that might help me. I can't really go to my professor's office looking for help on everything... but I really want to understand analysis and be able to do my homework. I think I have the most trouble doing these proofs that make you prove formulas work by induction, etc. (I feel okay about the completeness axiom, inf/sup proofs, etc.). I don't know if/when the proofs I write are correct or not (since we never have to turn them in).

Any advice, tips, suggestions for mastering analysis? I'm willing to put in a lot of time, but want to put it in the right area.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Zabopper]

MIT OpenCourseWare has http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Mathematics/18-100BFall-2006/Assignments/index.htm" for its Analysis 1B course.

Also, I strongly recommend Rudin's Principles of Mathematical Analysis, which I think is the text for the above course.

Good luck and persist!

 

[statdad]

I second the suggestion about Rudin, if it is the one we old-timers weened on, known as "Blue Rudin" or, less politely, as "Baby Rudin". The writing was concise and well-organized.