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Though I have only skimmed through the textbook, it looks very well written. I admire the effort you have put into it, and that you have made it available for f

by meuk 8y ago

Though I have only skimmed through the textbook, it looks very well written. I admire the effort you have put into it, and that you have made it available for free. The same thing holds for the text on number theory (although it looks like you have put even more effort in the linear algebra text - not only due to the fancy typesetting). How much time did you put into writing? I have been wishing to write something similar (that is, math texts about linear algebra, analysis, number theory, etc.) for a long time, although I can only hope it to be of this quality. Do you have any tips for an aspiring math textbook writer? I have a graduate degree in math, but I unfortunately I don't use math in my day job, so I am afraid that the material I produce will be too low in quality to be useful for people...

jimhefferon 8y ago
I'm sorry but I missed your question earlier. I am currently working on a Theory of Computation text. I have about two years in, and anticipate at least one more, probably two. (I need to write some Scheme and I am rusty.)
- meuk 8y ago
  No worries, I just posted this yesterday! ;) I know how busy professors can be, so I wasn't really expecting a reply (at least anytime soon). But wow, that is a pretty deep investment! I was expecting a little less, but I guess it makes sense since writing is not your full-time occupation.
  - jimhefferon 8y ago
    I work at a small liberal arts college, St Michael's College in Vermont. I have a much greater expectation of teaching effort than professors at research institutions would have, although here there is also an expectation of professional activity. So the writing is not anything like full-time. But it is a creative outlet, which is great. > I have a graduate degree in math, but I unfortunately I don't use math in my day job, so I am afraid that the material I produce will be too low in quality to be useful for people... It is good to have feedback from real people. I work through material with my students in classes, and sometimes I've had what I thought was a great approach and it would just not work in practice. I don't know if there are online groups of people working on writng stuff like this, either at the college level or at high school or earlier levels, but if you could find such a group, it'd be good to get in with them. (And tell me. :-) )

by meuk 8y ago

jimhefferon 8y ago

I'm sorry but I missed your question earlier. I am currently working on a Theory of Computation text. I have about two years in, and anticipate at least one more, probably two. (I need to write some Scheme and I am rusty.)

meuk 8y ago
No worries, I just posted this yesterday! ;) I know how busy professors can be, so I wasn't really expecting a reply (at least anytime soon). But wow, that is a pretty deep investment! I was expecting a little less, but I guess it makes sense since writing is not your full-time occupation.
- jimhefferon 8y ago
  I work at a small liberal arts college, St Michael's College in Vermont. I have a much greater expectation of teaching effort than professors at research institutions would have, although here there is also an expectation of professional activity. So the writing is not anything like full-time. But it is a creative outlet, which is great. > I have a graduate degree in math, but I unfortunately I don't use math in my day job, so I am afraid that the material I produce will be too low in quality to be useful for people... It is good to have feedback from real people. I work through material with my students in classes, and sometimes I've had what I thought was a great approach and it would just not work in practice. I don't know if there are online groups of people working on writng stuff like this, either at the college level or at high school or earlier levels, but if you could find such a group, it'd be good to get in with them. (And tell me. :-) )