In this new edition of Numbers and Functions, the reader is invited to tackle each of the key concepts of mathematical analysis in turn, progressing from experience through a structured sequence of se
The transition from studying calculus in schools to studying mathematical analysis at university is notoriously difficult. In this third edition of Numbers and Functions, Professor Burn invites the student reader to tackle each of the key concepts in turn, progressing from experience through a structured sequence of more than 800 problems to concepts, definitions and proofs of classical real analysis. The sequence of problems, of which most are supplied with brief answers, draws students into constructing definitions and theorems for themselves. This natural development is informed and complemented by historical insight. Carefully corrected and updated throughout, this new edition also includes extra questions on integration and an introduction to convergence. The novel approach to rigorous analysis offered here is designed to enable students to grow in confidence and skill and thus overcome the traditional difficulties.
Number theory is concerned with the properties of the natural numbers: 1, 2, 3 … During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, number theory became established through the work of Fermat, Euler and Gauss. With the hand calculators and computers of today the results of extensive numerical work are instantly available and the road leading to their discoveries may be traversed with comparative care. Now in its second edition, this book consists of a sequence of exercises that will lead readers from quite simple number work to the point where they can prove algebraically the classical results of elementary number theory for themselves. A modern secondary school course in mathematics is sufficient background for the whole book which is designed to be used as an undergraduate course in number theory to be pursued by independent study without supporting lectures.
This book follows the same successful approach as Dr Burn's previous book on number theory. It consists of a carefully constructed sequence of questions which will enable the reader, through his or her own participation, to generate all the group theory covered by a conventional first university course. An introduction to vector spaces, leading to the study of linear groups, and an introduction to complex numbers, leading to the study of Möbius transformations and stereographic projection, are also included. Quaternions and their relationship to three-dimensional isometries are covered, and the climax of the book is a study of crystallographic groups, with a complete analysis of these groups in two dimensions.
