How to Read and Do Proofs: An Introduction to Mathematical Thought Processes | 
 enlarge | Author: Daniel Solow
Publisher: Wiley
Category: Book
Buy New: $39.00
New (19) Used (9) from $33.26
Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 124395
Media: Paperback
Edition: 4
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.4
ISBN: 0471680583
Dewey Decimal Number: 511.36
EAN: 9780471680581
Publication Date: October 25, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: SHIPS FAST! via UPS(AK/HI Priority Mail) within 24 hours/ NEW book
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Product Description
An easy-to-use guide that shows how to read, understand, and do proofs. - Shows how any proof can be understood as a sequence of techniques.
- Covers the full range of techniques used in proofs, such as the contrapositive, induction, and proof by contradiction.
- Explains how to identify which techniques are used and how they are applied in the specific problem.
- Illustrates how to read written proofs with many step-by-step examples.
- Includes new, expanded appendices related to discrete mathematics, linear algebra, modern algebra and real analysis.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 An Excellent Rescource September 29, 2005
Aaron Rutledge (Oak Creek, WI)
34 out of 34 found this review helpful
"How to Read and Do Proofs" is a magnificent introduction to mathematical thought processes. If you have always wanted to understand how to read and do your own proofs, this book will definitely provide you with the tools. This book is very thorough, and after having mastered it you will feel very comfortable about your abilities to read and construct proofs. Solow covers what he calls the "foward-backward" method first to give the reader a general understanding of how direct proof works. He then explains direct proof of existential quantifiers (there exists...), direct proof of universal quantifiers, proof by contradiction, proof by contrapositive, mathematical induction and more. He also has added 4 appendices pertaining to Modern Albebra, Analysis, Number Theory, and Linear Algebra. Many answers to exercises are provided either in the book or on-line. An excellent rescource for anyone wanting to learn the methods of mathematical proof.
Outstanding math book, and great intro to proofs March 30, 2006
S. A. Corning (Gurnee, IL USA)
23 out of 23 found this review helpful
This is a great book, and one of my favorite math books. Like the other reviewer, I also wanted to learn how to read and write proofs. I am an engineer, (many years ago), and not a mathematician, (but really enjoy math). The author communicates clearly, and provides lots of good examples. But the heart of the book is the problem sets for each chapter. Most books on proofs spend way too much time on Logic, (or geometry), and not enough on "math" proofs. The book provides problems from a wide variety of math areas. The latest edition added a lot of new material. I struggled at times, since I went through the whole book without an instructor, and worked on all of the problems. So having most of the possible answers in the back of the book, or on the internet helped as a check on my understanding. This book would make a great gift.
How to think mathematically May 4, 2007
Daniel Connelly (Marietta, GA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book does a great job of guiding you through the process of developing mathematical reasoning. I used it alongside my transition to higher math course this year and would not have done as well in the course without it.
A MUST HAVE!!!!! November 7, 2006
CNote (Phila, PA USA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I wish this book was out when I was an undergrad! It is clear and concise. It covers many of the basic areas of math and gives a tremendous amount of insight on which style of proof fits a particular situation. Every example is presented in a very clear way, which gave me confidence in my ability to write proofs. This book should be used by ALL professors who teach an introductory analysis course.
 A Good Introduction, but Stilted Prose August 21, 2006
Erik G. (Syracuse, NY)
6 out of 10 found this review helpful
I will not disagree with the previous reviews, except to say that the author while pretty clear and straight-forward in explaining things, has a stilted style that doesn't always flow or read well. I suspect though for many people, particularly many novice, and some professional, mathematicians will never really notice it or find it problematic.
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