Presents the state-of-the-art of applications in the whole spectrum of mathematics which are grounded on the use of ultrafilters and ultraproducts. It contains two general surveys on ultrafilters in set theory and on the ultraproduct construction, as well as papers that cover additive and combinatorial number theory, nonstandard methods and stochastic differential equations, measure theory, dynamics, Ramsey theory, algebra in the space of ultrafilters, and large cardinals.

Ultrafilters and ultraproducts provide a useful generalization of the ordinary limit processes which have applications to many areas of mathematics. Typically, this topic is presented to students in specialized courses such as logic, functional analysis, or geometric group theory. In this book, the basic facts about ultrafilters and ultraproducts are presented to readers with no prior knowledge of the subject and then these techniques are applied to a wide variety of topics. The first part of the book deals solely with ultrafilters and presents applications to voting theory, combinatorics, and topology, while also dealing also with foundational issues. The second part presents the classical ultraproduct construction and provides applications to algebra, number theory, and nonstandard analysis. The third part discusses a metric generalization of the ultraproduct construction and gives example applications to geometric group theory and functional analysis. The final section returns to more advanced topics of a more foundational nature. The book should be of interest to undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers from all areas of mathematics interested in learning how ultrafilters and ultraproducts can be applied to their specialty.

Starting with a simple formulation accessible to all mathematicians, this second edition is designed to provide a thorough introduction to nonstandard analysis. Nonstandard analysis is now a well-developed, powerful instrument for solving open problems in almost all disciplines of mathematics; it is often used as a ‘secret weapon’ by those who know the technique. This book illuminates the subject with some of the most striking applications in analysis, topology, functional analysis, probability and stochastic analysis, as well as applications in economics and combinatorial number theory. The first chapter is designed to facilitate the beginner in learning this technique by starting with calculus and basic real analysis. The second chapter provides the reader with the most important tools of nonstandard analysis: the transfer principle, Keisler’s internal definition principle, the spill-over principle, and saturation. The remaining chapters of the book study different fields for applications; each begins with a gentle introduction before then exploring solutions to open problems. All chapters within this second edition have been reworked and updated, with several completely new chapters on compactifications and number theory. Nonstandard Analysis for the Working Mathematician will be accessible to both experts and non-experts, and will ultimately provide many new and helpful insights into the enterprise of mathematics.

Contains articles of significant interest to mathematicians, including reports on current mathematical research.