Anyone know of classic math books?

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wyrd

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I don't know of any math forums and since computer science is closely related, I figured I'd ask here in hopes of a response.

I'm looking for classic math books. ie; The Thirteen Books of Euclid's Elements
 
Is this for "pleasure reading" (???) or to understand math basics?

The level of math that I use is finite and thus any bookstore algerbra, geometry, trigonometry, pre calculus or calculus books will do the trick. Just pick your favorite bookstore and it'll be there.

I'm just kidding about the "pleasure reading"....some folks really dig this stuff and good for them!

Dan
 
Well of course I can go to a book store and pick out any 'ol regular book by flipping through 'em. What I'm looking for is names of classic books. Going to a book store and thumbing through tons and tons of books isn't going to help me figure out which ones are classics. :(
 
Hi Wyrd!
I lernded calculus reading this book written by George Simmons. It was very easy to learn, since it uses a simple language but still going deep into details. And I really understood what it is all about. It helped me a lot going through calculus I,II and III in college.
 
For pleasure and illumination, the old book (classic in every sense of the word) originally published in 1884, "Flatland" by Edwin A. Abbott (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...?v=glance&s=books&vi=reader&img=4#reader-link) and it's modern update/sequel (published in 2001) "Flaterland" by Ian Stewart (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...?v=glance&s=books&vi=reader&img=4#reader-link) are great *fun*. If you've got some time before you need to prepare for the big test, "Flatterland" can stand on it's own very well as a kind of fantasy mental structure to build your math concepts upon and, it may tweak your interest in all things mathematical. Hard to explain the book otherwise unless you've read one or the other of them. Now, if your just trying to learn the how too's, buy a text book. The math department at your prospective school publishes required text books every year. Check out last years required reading for the level at which you want to be proficient and read it. Remember, by definition, placement tests need to exceed your knowledge. They have to test students at all levels of knowledge. When taking the test, don't dwell too long on any one question, there will be questions you cant answer and there will be questions further along in the test you can answer. The goal is not to get them all correct, but to get as many correct as you can.
 
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I am not looking for books to learn from, I am not looking for books to help me study for some test, I am not looking for books for school.

I am looking for classics in mathemtics that I can read for my own pleasure and perhaps gain some extra knowledge in the process. Whether they they are part philosophy or pure math books makes no difference. The book I gave was an example, and it happened to be based a classic math series about Geomatry written by Euclid (2500 years ago). That doesn't mean the only classic books I'm looking for are Geomatry, they can be any type of math.

jfackler:
Finally someone understood. :) Well, the first book you posted a link to is what I was looking for (and only $2!), not the second one. The second book is just some guy trying to update the original with his own added theories and what not (extra dimensions etc). Definitely not a classic, especially since it was originally published in 2001. :P
 
Ahhh but don't dismiss Flatterland, it's full of twists for your brain that will keep you happily squirming through topological worm holes and wrestling with dimensional realities ( how about parallel lines that can meet). If your so inclined, it's worth a read.

Jon
 
Try ths "Compleat Strategist". The book is only 40 years old but it is considered the classic book on Game Theory. This book
transformed that area of thought.
 
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