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"An Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning" by Peter J Eccels. Teaches the vocabulary of mathematics, just the basics you need to think like a mathematician, no
by mahmud 17y ago
"An Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning" by Peter J Eccels. Teaches the vocabulary of mathematics, just the basics you need to think like a mathematician, not a mathematics user like most science texts.
"How To Solve It" George Polya. Heurists and problem solving skills, by a great mathematician.
Do a google search, specially in the sci.math newsgroup. Again, read books by mathematicians for mathematicians; they're often far more enjoyable and actually far more straightforward (I was often confused by the examples in my school work; I didn't care for "vehicle moving at speed X" or "object falling at from height Y". We all have a different internal visual mind and I tended to think in abstract patterns, usually colors, lines or nested bodies, without real physical objects distracting me.)
- mattyb 17y agoI second the Eccles recommendation. It's a really great introduction to formal mathematics.
- babyboy808 17y agoFantastic reply, thank you. An Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning loks good, just going to read some reviews on Amazon first. Would 'How To Solve It' be aimed at someone like myself?
- billswift 17y agoHow to Solve It seems to be aimed at math teachers, but it is useful for almost anyone wanting to learn more math since it gives ideas about how to think about maths.
- revertts 17y agoHow To Solve It is a great recommendation. I had a physics professor that did an amazing job of teaching problem solving; even though the class wasn't directly to my major, it was probably the single most useful class I ever took. Next semester I read How To Solve It and realized that the way he taught followed closely to what Polya lays out.