Mathematical Discovery

A unique, heuristic approach to mathematical discovery and problem solving

This combined edition of Mathematical Discovery: On Understanding, Learning and Teaching Problem Solving is unique among mathematics texts. Espousing a heuristic approach to mathematical problem solving, the text may be followed sequentially or according to instructors' individualized curricula. Beginning with a discussion of patterns and practical approaches to problem solving, the book then presents examples from various branches of math and science to help students discover how to solve problems on their own – an invaluable skill for the classroom and beyond.

George Pólya was a Hungarian mathematician. He was a professor of mathematics from 1914 to 1940 at ETH Zürich and from 1940 to 1953 at Stanford University. He made fundamental contributions to combinatorics, number theory, numerical analysis and probability theory.