Nature of Mathematics, 12th Edition - Hardcover

Smith, Karl J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0538737581 ISBN 13: 9780538737586

Publisher: Cengage Learning, 2011

Synopsis

Experience mathematics--and develop problem-solving skills that will benefit you throughout your life--with THE NATURE OF MATHEMATICS. Karl Smith introduces you to proven problem-solving techniques and shows you how to use these techniques to solve unfamiliar problems that you encounter in your day-to-day world. You'll find coverage of interesting historical topics, and practical applications to real-world settings and situations, such as finance (amortization, installment buying, annuities) and voting. With Smith's guidance, you'll both understand mathematical concepts and master the techniques.

About this title

About the Author:

Karl Smith is professor emeritus at Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, California. He has written over 36 mathematics textbooks and believes that students can learn mathematics if it is presented to them through the use of concrete examples designed to develop original thinking, abstraction, and problem-solving skills. Over one million students have learned mathematics from Karl Smith's textbooks.

Review:

"The Nature of Mathematics," by Karl J. Smith, is a terrific book. The author covers a multitude of mathematical topics ranging from arithmetic through computers. His style is most entertaining: inviting, thorough without being cumbersome, clear, and crisp. The text is illustrated in a multi-colored fashion; it is peppered with biographical information; it presents paradoxes and meets the student where 'he/she is at.' It is clear the author is a splendid mathematician and an educator of the first rank."

"The author succeeds in providing a wide range of topics that give an instructor the flexibility to design an appropriate course based on individual needs. . . . The text is written in language that is appropriate for college students, yet is not too technical for students with limited backgrounds."

"My overall feeling is the ideas presented in the preface, especially the focus on problem solving, pervade the entire book. The author succeeds in trying to reduce anxiety about the course by presenting topics and ideas that are fresh and relevant without begin out of reach of the student."

About this edition

• Publisher: Cengage Learning
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0538737581
• ISBN 13: 9780538737586
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 1024