Comments on: Old math books

By: Firsthand knowledge — The Endeavour

Firsthand knowledge — The Endeavour — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 21:38:02 +0000

[...] does not only apply to literature. I see the same theme in math. Sometimes early math papers are easier to read because they are more concrete. When I was a postdoc at Vanderbilt I asked [...]

By: Mike P.

Mike P. — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 01:20:22 +0000

Helen Plum Library, here in Lombard, Illinois got rid of all their old math books except for one: ‘Mathematics for the Million’ by Hogben. It seems like the rest were published within the last fifteen or twenty years. Old books can be better, perhaps because the authors didn’t grow up watching TV. Newton N. Minow referred to television as a “vaste wasteland.” However, if you want to learn about new technology or the latest discoveries in science, try something more current.

By: John

John — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 16:48:42 +0000

I believe that book is popular in some homeschool circles, perhaps in modern editions.

By: Carol Cook

Carol Cook — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 16:19:45 +0000

I have found an old Math book at a charitable yard sale. Was curious if there was a market for it.
‘Ray’s Mathematical, Ray’s New Higher Arithmetic’
Copyright 1880
Preface marked as Cinninnati, July, 1880

If you know where I might get some information on this book, or others, please let me know.
Thank you,
Carol Cook

By: Kat Abboushi

Kat Abboushi — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 23:37:17 +0000

I have a very cool old mathematics book you may like . Fabulous cover showing an Arab on a camel – with palm trees. It is embossed on the cloth. Background is Black. Title of the book is First Course in THE NEW MATHEMATICS by Edgerton and Carpenter. The letters and the scene are in red and green. Hardback, dated 1934. In really good condition.

If you are interested, I will send you a picture.

By: Sue VanHattum

Sue VanHattum — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:16:13 +0000

That sounds like a bit of a split between ‘engineering/applied math’ and ‘pure math’, or do I have the dimension wrong? I got a math BA (pure, not applied) at U of Michigan in 79. Don’t know if that tells anything about my background or not.

By: John

John — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:13:26 +0000

Sue, here’s an example. Two thirds of the book “A course in modern analysis” listed above is about special functions: the gamma function, Bessel functions, etc. Years ago it was common for math students to study that book cover to cover. Now most math majors no nothing about special functions, except maybe the gamma function, but they probably do know something about basic topology, groups, etc. It’s important that students learn these abstract unifying concepts, but it’s a shame that a lot of classical mathematics isn’t taught any more.

By: Sue VanHattum

Sue VanHattum — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:35:53 +0000

I read your Jenga math post and the comments there. This sort of thing makes me feel like I’m not a “real mathematician”. It’s above my head… If you have an example you think I’d get, I am interested in how math books have changed over time.

By: John

John — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:10:40 +0000

Sue, part of what I had in mind was "hard analysis" versus "soft analysis." Hard analysis looks at specific functions and studies them in detail, produces quantitative estimates, etc. Soft analysis is more abstract and existential. Hard analysis likes to strengthen conclusions. Soft analysis likes to weaken hypotheses. (See Jenga mathematics.) The books I listed are on the hard side whereas soft analysis has been more fashionable, though the pendulum is starting to move back toward the hard side.

By: Sue VanHattum

Sue VanHattum — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:48:27 +0000

>More importantly, they embody an approach to mathematics that has fallen out of fashion.

Would you elaborate, John? I’m wondering what you had in mind.

By: Daniel Black

Daniel Black — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:03:14 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, I found some nice gems from a book sale at our public library. The Hamilton County Public Library (Cincinnati area) is reputed to be in the top three busiest public libraries, which made for a great treasure trove. I don’t have anything quite 1900 vintage, but among others I found How to Study, How To Solve by Dadourian, which focuses on profitable behavior and discipline generally, and specific to studying mathematics. To quote:

Most of the conditions for effective study are the same for all subjects–conditions such as good health and eyesight, proper lighting, freedom from distractions and worries, adequate knowledge of prerequisite subjects, and balanced allotment of time to rest, recreation, and work. In this part of the book we shall discuss the mental attitudes and habits of work which are conducive to effective study and, consequently, to economy of time, effort, and thought.

By: Blaise F Egan

Blaise F Egan — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:11:57 +0000

I don’t know the first two books but I have the Feller book. It comes as two volumes, one on discrete distributions and one on continuous distributions. Both are peppered with very interesting examples that make make the reader think.