Reviews (1)

Numbers being treated with respect
Few books capture the range and rapture of mathematics like this one. Even though only twelve numbers are discussed, (zero through 9, e and aleph-zero), many of the trials, tribulations and joys of numbers and their admirers comes through. The style cannot merely be described by the wordclarity, as this is a work that can be read by virtually anyone, eventhough a lot of mathematics is presented.Read more

Subjects:  1. Counting & Numeration    2. History & Philosophy    3. Mathematics    4. Number Theory    5. Numerals    6. Science/Mathematics   

Reviews (1)

A beautiful guide to the Prime Number Theorem
As an armchair mathematician, I can't remember how many times I'd read books that said things like "The prime number theorem, the proof of which is beyond the scope of this book, shows that the average number of primes less than any integer, n, is approximately n / log n."What a remarkable, intriguing statement!I was thrilled, therefore, to finally come across Professor Jameson's book, which is a proof of this theorem - no more, no less.Well, slightly more: he includes some interesting applications of the theorem, too.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Mathematics    3. Number Theory    4. Numbers, Prime    5. Probability & Statistics - General    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Mathematics / Number Theory   

Reviews (1)

The Best Introduction To Logic and Set Theory
This is the clearest and most thorough introduction to the subject matter I've read.The beginner interested in logic, sets, relations, maps and cardinal numbers cannot do better than to read this text.Read more

Subjects:  1. Logic    2. Logic, Symbolic and mathematic    3. Logic, Symbolic and mathematical    4. Mathematical And Symbolic Logic    5. Mathematics    6. Philosophy Of Mathematics    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Mathematical logic    9. Mathematics / Logic    10. Number theory    11. Set theory   

Subjects:  1. Algebraic Fields    2. Arithmetic functions    3. Drinfeld modules    4. Functional Analysis    5. Group Theory    6. Mathematics    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Algebraic number theory    9. Differential equations    10. Geometry    11. Mathematics / Number Theory    12. Topology   

Reviews (3)

Couldn't put it down.
This little book, written as a "novel", actually tries to show us that each of us is actually able to be an amature mathematician, and that "pure mathematics" is not that complicated once you get down to the rules. One star--the extra is for referring to John Conway as God
Stanford mathematician D. E. Knuth, in his slim volume Surreal Numbers, attempts to impart to the reader the notion of surreal numbers by way of a very unusual tactic: the dialogue. The book has two characters-a man and a woman-that, as a couple, have left Western society to find peace and their inner selves on a beach in India. After several months of swimming and picking berries, their intellectual needs begin to weigh heavy on them. In other words, they become bored. As luck would have it, their boredom is halted by the discovery of a stone tablet on the beach near their camp. The tablet reads, in Hebrew, "In the beginning, everything was void, and J. H. W. H. Conway began to create numbers." The tablet continues, giving the basic axioms that serve as basis for the creation of surreal numbers. The rest of the dialogue consists of our lovely couple discovering theorems and properties of surreal numbers using the axioms from the stone tablet. We see them take many wrong paths in their journey, only to realize and correct their errors in moments of sudden and poorly explained revelation. .... An amusing book that details an interesting subject in math
This book, written in Knuth's classic style, employs a unique dialog to guide the reader through the derivation of the fascinating mathematical topic of surreal numbers. Its short length and humor makes it a must forany math fan interested in the methods used for deriving new concepts inmath, and the exercises included make it a useful book for math teachersinterested in giving something new to their students. All said, a lovelybook. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Science    2. Mathematics    3. Number Theory    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Surreal numbers    6. Technical Writing    7. Technology    8. Lattice theory    9. Technology / Technical Writing   

Reviews (6)

Back to Basics
This really is a good book, first in `Master Math' series. I was looking for a book to brush up my basic math after 22 years. I found this book very useful. Just keep one thing in mind; this is neither a text book nor a replacement for it. If all you want is to brush up or learn the basics or just a reference, this is the book for you. For some hands on experience or work outs, buy some other book, but after going through this (that will be very useful) Written in a very simple and clear language and it is not just a collection of formulas and definitions.I recommend.

Good But Not Great For Basic Math and Pre-Algebra
I was sitting down at work one day and tried to work out a math problem. I couldn't believe that I had forgotten how to do certain math calculations. I am fourty years old and figured that I was in need of a mathematical review. I was able to whiz through the book and pausing after each chapter, saying to myself, "O.K. I understand this now, I haven't really lost it all. I just needed a quick refresher." The book starts out from the very very basic, explaining the theory and terminology however when it came to chapter 8 and the explanation of logarithms things start to become fuzzy. The author should have asked normal everyday students if they understood what she was talking about. I recommend Forgotten Algebra from Barron's over this book.

A big help
I have always avoided math whenever possible, but now I have to pass a college level math course in order to complete a degree.This book has helped me review the basics and slowly work my way into more advanced math.Read more

Subjects:  1. Arithmetic    2. General    3. Mathematics    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Education / Vocational Guidance    6. Number theory   

Reviews (1)

Useful yet dense!
This is the most comprehensive compilation on combinatorial optiomization I have seen so far.Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Science    2. Discrete Mathematics    3. Linear Programming    4. Mathematics    5. Number Theory    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Algorithms & procedures    8. Combinatorial Optimization    9. Discrete Algorithms    10. Mathematical Programming    11. Mathematics / Discrete Mathematics   

Reviews (2)

lots of unusual and challenging problems on complex numbers
Comprehensive and yet concise enough to cover lots of material. Lots of wonderful questions to challenge any math problem lovers.
A very useful book on complex numbers
Mathematics is amazing not only in its power and beauty, but also in the way that it has applications in so many areas. The aim of this book is to stimulate young people to become interested in mathematics, to enthuse, inspire, and challenge them, their parents and their teachers with the wonder, excitement, power, and relevance of mathematics.
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Subjects:  1. Algebra - General    2. Mathematics    3. Number Systems    4. Number Theory    5. Numbers, Complex    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Mathematics / Number Theory    8. algebra    9. geometry   

Subjects:  1. Applied    2. Fractal Geometry    3. Fractals    4. Functions, Zeta    5. Geometry - Algebraic    6. Geometry - Analytic    7. Mathematics    8. Number Theory    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Theory Of Numbers    11. Topology - Fractals    12. Algebraic geometry    13. Geometry    14. Mathematics / Geometry / Analytic    15. Mathematics / Number Theory    16. Mathematics-Applied    17. Mathematics-Topology - Fractals    18. differential geometry    19. partial differential equations   

Reviews (2)

A rigorous account of Interior Point Methods
Yinyu Ye is one of the exponents of Modern Day Interior Point Methods. He is responsible for a class of interior point methods called "Potential Reduction Methods", and you will find a good account of it in thisbook. Yes Good ! But !
Our times are as much complex as this book is. Of course Luenberger instinct and intiution is missing. But this book has taken a lot of the spirit of Luenberger way of writting and it should because the writerprobably had this great man as a teacher. Unfortunately each paragraph isonly C0 continue with the others. For instance chapter 4 seems to beindependent of Chapter 3 despite the writer generous attempts to prevent usagainst. Couldn't it have been more illustrative in Karmarkar's algorithmfor instance to be mentioned in a straight-forward manner that we firstfind a feasible point then find the analytic center of Omega which is acentral-path point. Then we place the objective line passing this point,then minimizing to the analytic center of omega(z) then when |pk| < n< 1 then we have an 9/10 analytic center of it then we move the line tothis center and then do the same job. The 'deeper cut' that is describeddoes not convince because the movements of the objective line are fewerthan other iterartions. Concluding this book should be treated as a guideto a wonderful new world.But theories ofInterior - Point MUST be made more easy. I am sure that there exist Proofsand theorems that are more "simple" and thus more"reliable". Lets hope that a new Luenberger is on his way... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algorithms (Computer Programming)    2. Discrete Mathematics    3. Interior-point methods    4. Linear Programming    5. Mathematics    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Applications of Computing    8. Mathematical modelling    9. Mathematics / Discrete Mathematics    10. Number theory   

Reviews (1)

Excellent book from mathematical standpoint
Very good intro textbook. It gives short, detailed preps to various coding areas (linear, cyclic, convolutional). The biggest advantage this book has is that it does not throw at You tonnes of unnecessary info (like many other thick books do). That is, it assumes reader has some basic understanding of algebra and probability theory. Let's say, it gives good theoretical presentation such that the reader gets good theoretical understanding, it is not example-based. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Advanced    2. Applied    3. Coding Theory    4. General    5. Information Theory    6. Mathematics    7. Probability & Statistics - General    8. Programming - Systems Analysis & Design    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Algebraic geometry    11. Applied mathematics    12. Codierung zur Fehlerverbesserung    13. Combinatorics & graph theory    14. Error-correcting codes    15. Mathematics / Discrete Mathematics    16. Number theory   

Reviews (2)

For the senior math undergraduate
A great book for senior undergraduates in mathematics or anyone with some background in calculus and complex numbers.Proofs are at a level where a careful reading makes them clear, and the author tells the reader when he is not being rigorous.Historical background and logical development of topics makes this a good read too.Most surprising to me was how the author tied in topics from prior chapters into later chapters--he didn't just jump from one topic to the next willy-nilly, but made the book flow as a whole.Problems given to the reader were helpful though sometimes too hard for me, a math major.

A great bridge to analytic number theory
There seems to be a huge gap between the mathematical background required to understand a book on elementary number theory and that required to understand most books dealing with analytic number theory.This book assumes no familiarity with complex variables.The writing feels a bit like Silverman's "Friendly Introduction to Number Theory" and Derbyshire's "Prime Obsession."Stopple includes plenty of experiments for Mathematica and Maple.I think this could be a useful textbook for an undergraduate number theory course.The last few chapters include elliptic curves (mention is made of their L-functions and the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture) and binary quadratic forms.I recommend this book to anyone who can read (and for those who can't, this book is good motivation to become literate). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mathematics    2. Number Theory    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Analytic number theory    5. Mathematics / Number Theory   

Subjects:  1. Mathematics    2. Number Theory   

Subjects:  1. Advanced    2. Automorphic functions    3. Mathematics    4. Number Theory    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Calculus & mathematical analysis    7. Mathematics / Advanced    8. Mathematics / Number Theory    9. Mathematics-Advanced   

Subjects:  1. Algebraic Geometry    2. Arithmetical algebraic geometr    3. Geometry - General    4. Mathematics    5. Number Theory    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Arithmetical algebraic geometry    8. Diophantische Geometrie    9. Geometry    10. Mathematics / Geometry / General    11. Mathematics / Number Theory    12. Mathematics-Geometry - General   

Reviews (20)

I'd give this book 6 stars if I could
Mathematical texts are seldom page-turners, but du Sautoy has written a book that's difficult to put down.He describes the history of the Riemann Hypothesis as an unfolding mystery, and there are genuine cliffhangers that leave you wondering what twists and turns the plot is about to take.
Good historical read.
This book gives a good historical account of the Riemann Hypothesis.The book is not too technical and is filled with historical notes which are in themselves fascinating.I also found the relation of quantum physics (energy level distribution of certain nuclei) to the Riemann Hypothesis (distribution of the Zeta function zeroes along the imaginary axis w/Re(1/2)) very interesting.The mention of elliptic curves as the basis of a data encryption algorithm was also of interest.In short, this book has succeeded in peaking my curiosity on a variety of mathematical subjects.I'm only giving it 4 stars since I would have liked a more technical treatment of the subject.

The good, the bad, and the ugly
As the previous reviewers have already noted, du Sautoy does a great job bringing together the history of research that has been done on prime numbers, especially the Riemann Hypothesis and anything that pertains to that problem.I had not heard of the physics connection until I read this book and I did enjoy reading about it.The coverage is also very comprehensive and very thorough.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. History & Philosophy    3. Mathematics    4. Number Theory    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Mathematics / General   

Reviews (2)

Really a treasure
I'm a student digging into the cryptology for an year. The more article I read, the more confusion I encounter because of my poor mathematical background. However, when I get this, I could find answer to my puzzles, and make an more explicit way to settle down my own idea.

The background you really need, clear and sweet
This book is a marvel.It is clear and concise yet thorough.The author is obviously a bit of an obsessive compulsive, he has found the shortest paths from the clearest definitions to the most important results, each given with the cleanest, most insight-inducing proofs ... the results (and definitions) he gives are the ones any student (practitioner!) of modern computer science (especially cryptology) *needs* to know -- having this book on your shelves (and its contents in your head) should be a requirement for any degree, at any level, in computer science.
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Subjects:  1. Algebra - General    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computers    4. Computers - General Information    5. General    6. Number Theory    7. Computers / General    8. Mathematical theory of computation   

Subjects:  1. Algebra - Linear    2. Mathematics    3. Number Theory    4. Rings (Algebra)    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Algebra    7. Mathematics / Algebra / Linear   

Reviews (1)

collection of surveys
This book is a collection of survey articles on the subject of algebraic cycles and motivic cohomology based on the NATO conference on algebraic cycles held at Banff, Canada. Survey papers contained in this book will definitely tell you what you need to know and where you should go to pursue research in this area. Libraries in major universities will definitely have this very important collection, but, if for algebraic geometers who work on algebraic cycles, having this book can be very convenient for their personal usage. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra - General    2. Geometry - Algebraic    3. Mathematical Analysis    4. Mathematics    5. Number Theory    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Algebraic geometry    8. Mathematics / Algebra / General    9. Mathematics / Geometry / Algebraic    10. Mathematics-Geometry - Algebraic    11. Mathematics-Mathematical Analysis   

Subjects:  1. Calculus    2. Ergodic theory    3. Integral Calculus    4. Mathematics    5. Number Theory    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Theory Of Numbers    8. Calculus & mathematical analysis    9. Mathematics / Differential Equations