Intro Math What were the first modern Discrete Mathematics and Precalculus texts?

Click For Summary
The discussion centers on identifying the first textbooks that introduced "precalculus" and "discrete mathematics" in their titles or subtitles, focusing on their impact on education. Participants speculate that these textbooks emerged during the late 1950s and 1960s, a time of significant experimentation in science education in the U.S., often supported by organizations like the NSF. The earliest references found include discrete mathematics texts from the early 1960s and precalculus texts from the early 1980s, with prior courses often labeled as mathematical analysis. The conversation emphasizes the importance of these textbooks in shaping modern curricula and their long-term influence on mathematics education, although specific titles and personal experiences with these books are also shared.
The Bill
Messages
373
Reaction score
146
What was the first textbook for the modern syllabus of precaclulus which had "precalculus" in the title or subtitle?

What was the first textbook for the modern syllabus of discrete mathematics which had "discrete," "discrete mathematics" in the title or subtitle?

If you have personal experience with one of the books that gets mentioned, what are your opinions of it? How do you feel about its direct influence on students and educators, and possibly about its long term influence on mathematics education?

I've been wondering about the circumstances of the origins of these book+course trends. I don't fully trust the timelines of the search results I've gotten so far, and I want to see more personal opinions than I've found so far.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I am guessing that they were developed in the late fifties and sixties which were a period of experimentation in science education in the US. You might try looking for the organizations that were doing the work. The NSF funded a lot of the work, so you might look into their history.
 
The earliest I could find were the early sixties for discrete math and the early eighties for precalculus. I think before then precqlc it was called (mathematical) analysis, e.g. Dolciani's eponymous text
 

Thread 'Complex analysis or calculus?'

Im currently reading mathematics for physicists by Philippe Dennery and André Krzywicki, and I’m understanding most concepts however I think it would be better for me to get a book on complex analysis or calculus to better understand it so I’m not left looking at an equation for an hour trying to figure out what it means. So here comes the split, do I get a complex analysis book? Or a calculus book? I might be able to Borrow a calculus textbook from my math teacher study that for a bit and...
View full post »

Similar threads

Applied A question about mathematics textbooks for physicists
  • · Replies 34 ·
2
Replies
34
Views
8K
Other What are some sources of recommendations for Math books?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Intro Math Plan to revise my learned math & start learning pure math
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
Supplemental topics for precalculus
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Undergrad Discrete Mathematics Function Topic
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Intro Math The Best Textbook for a Good Understanding of Mathematics
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
A good way to work through Hassani's Mathematical Physics
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
8K
Plasma Which order should I read these in?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
Stewart Precalculus or Blitzer's Precalculus
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
13K
Alternative to Mathematical Methods books
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K