This undergraduate textbook promotes an active transition to higher mathematics. Problem solving is the heart and soul of this book: each problem is carefully chosen to demonstrate, elucidate, or extend a concept. More than 300 exercises engage the reader in extensive arguments and creative approaches, while exploring connections between fundamental mathematical topics. Divided into four parts, this book begins with a playful exploration of the building blocks of mathematics, such as definitions, axioms, and proofs. A study of the fundamental concepts of logic, sets, and functions follows, before focus turns to methods of proof. Having covered the core of a transition course, the author goes on to present a selection of advanced topics that offer opportunities for extension or further study. Throughout, appendices touch on historical perspectives, current trends, and open questions, showing mathematics as a vibrant and dynamic human enterprise. This second edition has been reorganized to better reflect the layout and curriculum of standard transition courses. It also features recent developments and improved appendices. An Invitation to Abstract Mathematics is ideal for those seeking a challenging and engaging transition to advanced mathematics, and will appeal to both undergraduates majoring in mathematics, as well as non-math majors interested in exploring higher-level concepts. From reviews of the first edition: Bajnok’s new book truly invites students to enjoy the beauty, power, and challenge of abstract mathematics. ... The book can be used as a text for traditional transition or structure courses ... but since Bajnok invites all students, not just mathematics majors, to enjoy the subject, he assumes very little background knowledge. Jill Dietz, MAA Reviews The style of writing is careful, but joyously enthusiastic.... The author’s clear attitude is that mathematics consists of problem solving, and that writing a proof falls into this category. Students of mathematics are, therefore, engaged in problem solving, and should be given problems to solve, rather than problems to imitate. The author attributes this approach to his Hungarian background ... and encourages students to embrace the challenge in the same way an athlete engages in vigorous practice. John Perry, zbMATH

Pure Math: Discovering the Beauty of Abstract Mathematics offers a unique approach to exploring the captivating world of pure mathematics. It's where logic meets imagination, and abstract thought gives rise to profound beauty. This book takes you beyond the formulas and calculations, uncovering the hidden elegance that lies at the heart of mathematical structures, patterns, and theories. From the concept of infinity to symmetry in group theory, this book delves into the core ideas of pure math that have fascinated thinkers for centuries. You’ll discover the aesthetic appeal of mathematical proofs, each one a treasure waiting to be unearthed, explore the intricate relationships in number theory, and journey through the strange worlds of non-Euclidean geometry and topology. Whether you're intrigued by the mysteries of prime numbers or the paradoxes that challenge conventional logic, Pure Math illuminates these abstract concepts in a way that is both engaging and intellectually stimulating. Written for those who appreciate the beauty of ideas, this book is a celebration of the intellectual creativity that drives pure mathematics. It's perfect for mathematicians, students, and curious readers who want to see math as more than a tool for problem-solving. It’s a testament to the wonder that can be found in abstract reasoning. What you will find in this book: The concept of infinity and its role in set theory and calculus The elegance of mathematical proofs and the joy of discovering them Patterns and symmetry in number theory, geometry, and algebra Paradoxes that challenge the boundaries of logic and intuition The philosophical implications of pure mathematics as a universal language Exploration of the beauty and complexity found in abstract mathematical structures Embark on a fascinating journey into the depths of pure mathematics and discover a new way of thinking about the world around you!

This book is an introduction to the theory of calculus in the style of inquiry-based learning. The text guides students through the process of making mathematical ideas rigorous, from investigations and problems to definitions and proofs. The format allows for various levels of rigor as negotiated between instructor and students, and the text can be of use in a theoretically oriented calculus course or an analysis course that develops rigor gradually. Material on topology (e.g., of higher dimensional Euclidean spaces) and discrete dynamical systems can be used as excursions within a study of analysis or as a more central component of a course. The themes of bisection, iteration, and nested intervals form a common thread throughout the text. The book is intended for students who have studied some calculus and want to gain a deeper understanding of the subject through an inquiry-based approach.

An Invitation to Real Analysis is written both as a stepping stone to higher calculus and analysis courses, and as foundation for deeper reasoning in applied mathematics. This book also provides a broader foundation in real analysis than is typical for future teachers of secondary mathematics. In connection with this, within the chapters, students are pointed to numerous articles from The College Mathematics Journal and The American Mathematical Monthly. These articles are inviting in their level of exposition and their wide-ranging content. Axioms are presented with an emphasis on the distinguishing characteristics that new ones bring, culminating with the axioms that define the reals. Set theory is another theme found in this book, beginning with what students are familiar with from basic calculus. This theme runs underneath the rigorous development of functions, sequences, and series, and then ends with a chapter on transfinite cardinal numbers and with chapters on basic point-set topology. Differentiation and integration are developed with the standard level of rigor, but always with the goal of forming a firm foundation for the student who desires to pursue deeper study. A historical theme interweaves throughout the book, with many quotes and accounts of interest to all readers. Over 600 exercises and dozens of figures help the learning process. Several topics (continued fractions, for example), are included in the appendices as enrichment material. An annotated bibliography is included.

The present collection of essays are published in honor of the distinguished historian of mathematics Professor Emeritus Jesper Lützen. In a career that spans more than four decades, Professor Lützen's scholarly contributions have enhanced our understanding of the history, development, and organization of mathematics. The essays cover a broad range of areas connected to Professor Lützen's work. In addition to this noteworthy scholarship, Professor Lützen has always been an exemplary colleague, providing support to peers as well as new faculty and graduate students. We dedicate this Festschrift to Professor Lützen—as a scholarly role model, mentor, colleague, and friend.

Common Sense Mathematics is a text for a one semester college-level course in quantitative literacy. The text emphasizes common sense and common knowledge in approaching real problems through popular news items and finding useful mathematical tools and frames with which to address those questions. We asked ourselves what we hoped our students would remember about this course in ten year’s time. From that ten year perspective thoughts about syllabus–“what topics should we cover?"–seemed much too narrow. What matters more is our wish to change the way our students' minds work–the way they approach a problem, or, more generally, the way they approach the world. Most people “skip the numbers" in newspapers, magazines, on the web and (more importantly) even in financial information. We hope that in ten years our students will follow the news, confident in their ability to make sense of the numbers they find there and in their daily lives. Most quantitative reasoning texts are arranged by mathematical topics to be mastered. Since the mathematics is only a part of what we hope students learn, we've chosen another strategy. We look at real life stories that can be best understood with careful reading and a little mathematics.

Where did math come from? Who thought up all those algebra symbols, and why? What is the story behind π π? … negative numbers? … the metric system? … quadratic equations? … sine and cosine? … logs? The 30 independent historical sketches in Math through the Ages answer these questions and many others in an informal, easygoing style that is accessible to teachers, students, and anyone who is curious about the history of mathematical ideas. Each sketch includes Questions and Projects to help you learn more about its topic and to see how the main ideas fit into the bigger picture of history. The 30 short stories are preceded by a 58-page bird's-eye overview of the entire panorama of mathematical history, a whirlwind tour of the most important people, events, and trends that shaped the mathematics we know today. “What to Read Next” and reading suggestions after each sketch provide starting points for readers who want to learn more. This book is ideal for a broad spectrum of audiences, including students in history of mathematics courses at the late high school or early college level, pre-service and in-service teachers, and anyone who just wants to know a little more about the origins of mathematics.

This text is designed for the average to strong mathematics major taking a course called Transition to Higher Mathematics, Introduction to Proofs, or Fundamentals of Mathematics. It provides a transition to topics covered in advanced mathematics and covers logic, proofs and sets and emphasizes two important mathematical activities - finding examples of objects with specified properties and writing proofs.

Mathematics is not a spectator sport; successful students of mathematics grapple with ideas for themselves. Distilling Ideas presents a carefully designed sequence of exercises and theorem statements that challenge students to create proofs and concepts. As students meet these challenges, they discover strategies of proofs and strategies of thinking beyond mathematics. In other words, Distilling Ideas helps its users to develop the skills, attitudes, and habits of mind of a mathematician, and to enjoy the process of distilling and exploring ideas. Distilling Ideas is an ideal textbook for a first proof-based course. The text engages the range of students' preferences and aesthetics through a corresponding variety of interesting mathematical content from graphs, groups, and epsilon-delta calculus. Each topic is accessible to users without a background in abstract mathematics because the concepts arise from asking questions about everyday experience. All the common proof structures emerge as natural solutions to authentic needs. Distilling Ideas or any subset of its chapters is an ideal resource either for an organized Inquiry Based Learning course or for individual study.

The Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM), the oldest organization in the world for women in mathematics, had its fiftieth anniversary in 2021. This collection of refereed articles, illustrated by color photographs, reflects on women in mathematics and the organization as a whole. Some articles focus on the situation for women in mathematics at various times and places, including other countries. Others describe how individuals have shaped AWM, and, in turn, how the organization has impacted individuals as well as the broader mathematical community. Some are personal stories about careers in mathematics. Fifty Years of Women in Mathematics: Reminiscences, History, and Visions for the Future of AWM covers a span from AWM’s beginnings through the following fifty years. The volume celebrates AWM and its successes but does not shy away from its challenges. The book is designed for a general audience. It provides interesting and informative reading for people interested in mathematics, gender equity, or organizational structures; teachers of mathematics; students at the high school, college, and graduate levels; and members of more recently established organizations for women in mathematics and related fields or prospective founders of such organizations.