This textbook focuses on the study of different kinds of elementary functions ubiquitous both in high school Algebra and Calculus. To analyze the functions ranging from polynomial to trigonometric ones, it uses rudimentary techniques available to high school students, and at the same time follows the mathematical rigor appropriate for university level courses.
Contrary to other books of Pre-Calculus, this textbook emphasizes the study of elementary functions with rigor appropriate for university level courses in mathematics, although the exposition is confined to the pre-limit topics and techniques. This makes the book useful, on the one hand, as an introduction to mathematical reasoning and methods of proofs in mathematical analysis, and on the other hand, as a preparatory course on the properties of different kinds of elementary functions.
The textbook is aimed at university freshmen and high-school students interested in learning strict mathematical reasoning and in preparing a solid base for subsequent study of elementary functions at advanced level of Calculus and Analysis. The required prerequisites correspond to the level of the high school Algebra. All the preliminary concepts and results related to the elementary functions are covered in the initial part of the text. This makes the textbook suitable for both classroom use and self-study.
Andrei Bourchtein is Professor at the Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil. He received his Ph.D. in Mathematics and Physics from the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia. He began his academic and research career as an Associate Professor at Mathematics Institute, Far East State University, Russia, and a Research Scientist at the Hydrometeorological Institute, Russia. In 1995, he joined the Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil, as Associate Professor at the Institute of Physics and Mathematics before being promoted to Full Professor. An author of more than 100 refereed articles and 8 books, Prof. Bourchtein’s research interests include real and complex analysis, numerical analysis, computational fluid dynamics and numerical weather prediction. During his research career, he was awarded a number of grants from Brazilian science foundations and scientific societies, including the International Mathematical Union (IMU) and the International Council for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ICIAM).
Ludmila Bourchtein is Professor Emeritus and Senior Research Scientist at the Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil. She received her Ph.D. in Mathematics from Saint Petersburg State University, Russia. During the span of 34 years at the Mathematics Institute, Far East State University, Russia, she held different positions, from Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, to the rank of Full Professor. In the last 15 years, she served as Associate and Full Professor at the Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Federal University of Pelotas, where she was conferred with the title of Emeritus Professor in 2019. An author of more than 80 referred articles and 6 books, her research interests include real and complex analysis, conformal mappings and numerical analysis. During her research career, she was awarded a number of grants of Russian and Brazilian science foundations and scientific societies, including the International Mathematical Union (IMU) and the International Council for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ICIAM).
