The Mathematical Experience by Philip J. Davis - Reuben Hersh - Elena Anne Marchisotto

Winner of the 1983 National Book Award, The Mathematical Experience conveyed the power and beauty of its topic to a broad audience. The study version added exercises and other classroom aids. This softcover edition includes new epilogues by the original authors. Top page

Complete description

Winner of the 1983 National Book Award! "...a perfectly marvelous book about the Queen of Sciences, from which one will get a real feeling for what mathematicians do and who they are. The exposition is clear and full of wit and humor..." - The New Yorker (1983 National Book Award edition) Mathematics has been a human activity for thousands of years. Yet only a few people from the vast population of users are professional mathematicians, who create, teach, foster, and apply it in a variety of situations. The authors of this book believe that it should be possible for these professional mathematicians to explain to non-professionals what they do, what they say they are doing, and why the world should support them at it. They also believe that mathematics should be taught to non-mathematics majors in such a way as to instill an appreciation of the power and beauty of mathematics. Many people from around the world have told the authors that they have done precisely that with the first edition and they have encouraged publication of this revised edition complete with exercises for helping students to demonstrate their understanding. This edition of the book should find a new generation of general readers and students who would like to know what mathematics is all about. It will prove invaluable as a course text for a general mathematics appreciation course, one in which the student can combine an appreciation for the esthetics with some satisfying and revealing applications. The text is ideal for 1) a GE course for Liberal Arts students 2) a Capstone course for perspective teachers 3) a writing course for mathematics teachers. A wealth of customizable online course materials for the book can be obtained from Elena Anne Marchisotto (elena.marchisotto@csun.edu) upon request. Top page

General info

Publisher & Imprint: Birkhauser Boston Inc

Edition details 1st Reprint of the 1995 Edition ed. 2012. Updated with Epilogues by the Authors

City: Secaucus

Pages: 528

More info: height 254 mm width 178 mm weight 994 gr thickness 27 mm

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Age recommended: Professional and scholarly

Subject Indexing & Classification Dewey:(DC23) 510 Library of Congress Subject: 2011939204 Mathematics - Philosophy

Departments: Mathematical foundations; History of mathematics;

Record updated at: 16 May, 2013 time: 20:44

Summary The Mathematical Experience Preface.- Preface to the Study Edition.- Acknowledgements.- Introduction.- Overture.- 1. The Mathematical Landscape.- 2. Varieties of Mathematical Experience.- 3. Outer Issues.- 4. Inner Issues.- 5. Selected Topics in Mathematics.- 6. Teaching and Learning.- 7. From Certainty to Fallibility.- 8. Mathematical Reality.- Glossary.- Bibliography.- Index.- Epilogue. Top page

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