Reviews mostly of books and the circumstances in which I came across them. Most of the books are in science or mathematics.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Serious Games, Clark Abt, University Press of America (1970)
I have given the original publication date by Abt Associates in 1970, and published by Viking in 1971, the current edition was first reprinted in 1987. I have recently become interested in game-based learning. This seems to be an area in which the basic vocabulary is just becoming standardized. The title of the book appears to be the first appearance of the terminology "serious games." Much of the literature in game-based learning can be traced back to this seminal work. Well worth reading.
Real Analysis (2005), Real Analysis and Applications (2005) - Frank Morgan, American Mathematical Society
I was introduced to these books when my son David was about to take a class in variational calculus from my friend and colleague, Fred Hickling. Fred mentioned that Morgan's books were well though out pedagogically. The calculus of variations is in Real Analysis and Applications and is being used as prelude to Gelfand and Fomin. If you are a physicist and want to get acquaint yourself with modern mathematical notation - necessary if you want to read Arnol'd's Mathematical Methods of Classical Mechanics for instance - these books are a good choice. You don't need both as there is a considerable overlap in content, but either would be a good addition to the mathematical library of a physicist. I still find set theoretic notation repellent, but these books make it easier to review.
Each of the books contain short chapters that summarize information and outline proofs. The chapters in Real Analysis are:
Part I: Real numbers and limits
1. Numbers and logic
2. Infinity
3. Sequences
4. Functions and limits
Part II: Topology
5. Open and closed sets
6. Continuous functions
7. Composition of functions
8. Subsequences
9. Compactness
10. Existence of maximum
11. Uniform continuity
12. Connected sets and the intermediate value theorem
13. The Cantor set and fractals
Part III: Calculus
14. The derivative and the mean value theorem
15. The Riemann integral
16. The fundamental theorem of calculus
17. Sequences of functions
18. The Lebesgue theory
19. Infinite series ∑an
20. Absolute convergence
21. Power series
22. Fourier series
23. Strings and springs
24. Convergence of Fourier series
25. The exponential function
26. Volumes of n-balls and the gamma function
Part IV: Metric spaces
27. Metric spaces
28. Analysis on metric spaces
29. Compactness in metric spaces
30. Ascoli's theorem
The chapters in Real Analysis and Applications are:
Part I: Real numbers and limits
1. Numbers and logic
2. Infinity
3. Sequences
4. Subsequences
5. Functions and limits
6. Composition of functions
Part II: Topology
7. Open and closed sets
8. Compactness
9. Existence of maximum
10. Uniform continuity
11. Connected sets and the intermediate value theorem
12.The Cantor set and fractals
Part III: Calculus
13. The derivative and the mean value theorem
14. The Riemann integral
15. The fundamental theorem of calculus
16. Sequences of functions
17.The Lebesgue theory
18. Infinite series
19. Absolute convergence
20. Power series
21. The exponential function
22. Volumes of n-balls and the gamma function
Part IV: Fourier series
23. Fourier series
24. Strings and springs
25. Convergence of Fourier series
Part V: The calculus of variations
26. Euler's equation
27. First integrals and the Brachistochrone problem
28. Geodesics and great circles
29. Variational notation, higher order equations
30, Harmonic functions
31. Minimal surfaces
32. Hamilton's action and Lagrange's equations
33. Optimal economic strategies
34. Utility of consumption
35. Riemannian geometry
36. Noneuclidean geometry
37. General relativity
Each of the books contain short chapters that summarize information and outline proofs. The chapters in Real Analysis are:
Part I: Real numbers and limits
1. Numbers and logic
2. Infinity
3. Sequences
4. Functions and limits
Part II: Topology
5. Open and closed sets
6. Continuous functions
7. Composition of functions
8. Subsequences
9. Compactness
10. Existence of maximum
11. Uniform continuity
12. Connected sets and the intermediate value theorem
13. The Cantor set and fractals
Part III: Calculus
14. The derivative and the mean value theorem
15. The Riemann integral
16. The fundamental theorem of calculus
17. Sequences of functions
18. The Lebesgue theory
19. Infinite series ∑an
20. Absolute convergence
21. Power series
22. Fourier series
23. Strings and springs
24. Convergence of Fourier series
25. The exponential function
26. Volumes of n-balls and the gamma function
Part IV: Metric spaces
27. Metric spaces
28. Analysis on metric spaces
29. Compactness in metric spaces
30. Ascoli's theorem
The chapters in Real Analysis and Applications are:
Part I: Real numbers and limits
1. Numbers and logic
2. Infinity
3. Sequences
4. Subsequences
5. Functions and limits
6. Composition of functions
Part II: Topology
7. Open and closed sets
8. Compactness
9. Existence of maximum
10. Uniform continuity
11. Connected sets and the intermediate value theorem
12.The Cantor set and fractals
Part III: Calculus
13. The derivative and the mean value theorem
14. The Riemann integral
15. The fundamental theorem of calculus
16. Sequences of functions
17.The Lebesgue theory
18. Infinite series
19. Absolute convergence
20. Power series
21. The exponential function
22. Volumes of n-balls and the gamma function
Part IV: Fourier series
23. Fourier series
24. Strings and springs
25. Convergence of Fourier series
Part V: The calculus of variations
26. Euler's equation
27. First integrals and the Brachistochrone problem
28. Geodesics and great circles
29. Variational notation, higher order equations
30, Harmonic functions
31. Minimal surfaces
32. Hamilton's action and Lagrange's equations
33. Optimal economic strategies
34. Utility of consumption
35. Riemannian geometry
36. Noneuclidean geometry
37. General relativity
Both books contain partial solutions to problems. Real Analysis has 155 numbered pages. Real Analysis and Applications has 197 numbered pages. Either is worth owning, I have a slight preference for the longer book.
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