The Joy of Finite Mathematics
The Language and Art of Math
Published on 10. November 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
554 pages
978-0-12-802967-1 (ISBN)
Description
The Joy of Finite Mathematics: The Language and Art of Math teaches students basic finite mathematics through a foundational understanding of the underlying symbolic language and its many dialects, including logic, set theory, combinatorics (counting), probability, statistics, geometry, algebra, and finance.
Through detailed explanations of the concepts, step-by-step procedures, and clearly defined formulae, readers learn to apply math to subjects ranging from reason (logic) to finance (personal budget), making this interactive and engaging book appropriate for non-science, undergraduate students in the liberal arts, social sciences, finance, economics, and other humanities areas.
The authors utilize important historical facts, pose interesting and relevant questions, and reference real-world events to challenge, inspire, and motivate students to learn the subject of mathematical thinking and its relevance.
The book is based on the authors' experience teaching Liberal Arts Math and other courses to students of various backgrounds and majors, and is also appropriate for preparing students for Florida's CLAST exam or similar core requirements.
Through detailed explanations of the concepts, step-by-step procedures, and clearly defined formulae, readers learn to apply math to subjects ranging from reason (logic) to finance (personal budget), making this interactive and engaging book appropriate for non-science, undergraduate students in the liberal arts, social sciences, finance, economics, and other humanities areas.
The authors utilize important historical facts, pose interesting and relevant questions, and reference real-world events to challenge, inspire, and motivate students to learn the subject of mathematical thinking and its relevance.
The book is based on the authors' experience teaching Liberal Arts Math and other courses to students of various backgrounds and majors, and is also appropriate for preparing students for Florida's CLAST exam or similar core requirements.
Reviews / Votes
"This textbook includes the fundamentals of logic, set theory, combinatorics, probability, statistics, geometry, algebra, finance, and more. Aimed at undergraduate students in social sciences, finance, economics, and other areas, this liberal arts math text is said to be 'appropriate for preparing students for Florida's CLAST exam or similar core requirements. [...]This book includes several topics generally not seen in comparable texts. I am very pleased, even impressed, to see that:
Readers will encounter here an introduction to reasoning through the motivated presentation of basic logic. The use of a truth table to draw conclusions about a statement is a lost art now, rarely taught in secondary education and early college, at least in America. This dovetails nicely with the authors' electrical switching (parallel and serial) word problems.
The book includes well-considered personal finance advice, fulfilling a very present need for practical education. It includes bankruptcy laws, savings instruments, insurance types, budgeting, sales tax, and more. Together with a few pages on considering renting versus leasing versus buying, this chapter is strong in the practicalities of personal finance.
The syntax of proofs, including ? and ?.
Induction is covered earlier and at greater depth than is typical.
There is a deeper introduction to statistics, including the normal distribution, z-scores, and a very good introduction to normal approximation for binomial probabilities.
A decent bit of geometry filling a gap I typically have to deal with by supplementary material, for example to explain "scalene" and the implication of an axis being "transverse."
Set theory that goes deeper than usual, for instance reaching to "closure", etc. [...]
The authors' choices of what to include and exclude mean this book may not match a typical curriculum. I see this book as containing enough for perhaps two semesters of first-year college coursework." --Excerpted from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) review by Tom Schulte, 01/11/2017. Professor Shulte teaches finite mathematics and algebra courses at Oakland Community College in Michigan.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
San Diego
United States
Publishing group
Elsevier Science Publishing Co Inc
Target group
College/higher education
Undergraduate non-science students, foundational content
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 274 mm
Width: 216 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
1451 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-12-802967-1 (9780128029671)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
10/2015
Academic Press
€85.99
Available for download
Persons
Chris P. Tsokos is Distinguished University Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of South Florida. Dr. Tsokos' research has extended into a variety of areas, including stochastic systems, statistical models, reliability analysis, ecological systems, operations research, time series, Bayesian analysis, and mathematical and statistical modelling of global warming, both parametric and nonparametric survival analysis, among others. He is the author of more than 400 research publications in these areas, including Random Integral Equations with Applications to Life Sciences and Engineering, Probability Distribution: An Introduction to Probability Theory with Applications, Mainstreams of Finite Mathematics with Applications, Probability with the Essential Analysis, Applied Probability Bayesian Statistical Methods with Applications to Reliability, and Mathematical Statistics with Applications, among others. Dr. Tsokos is the recipient of many distinguished awards and honors, including Fellow of the American Statistical Association, USF Distinguished Scholar Award, Sigma Xi Outstanding Research Award, USF Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, USF Professional Excellence Award, Pi Mu Epsilon, election to the International Statistical Institute, Sigma Pi Sigma, USF Teaching Incentive Program, and several humanitarian and philanthropic recognitions and awards. He is also serves as Honorary Editor, Chief-Editor, Editor or Associate Editor for more than twelve academic research journals. Rebecca D. Wooten is Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of South Florida. In 15 years of teaching, she has been recognized for her excellence in teaching courses such as Liberal Arts Math, Basic Statistics, Introduction to Statistics and Applied Statistics Methods. Her research interests are concentrated in Applied Statistics with emphasis on Environmental Studies. Professor Wooten is extensively involved in activities to improve education not only in Mathematics and Statistics, but Education in general. She is the Academic Coordinator for two free-educational assistance program which offer opportunities for students to volunteer and the local community to get the assistance in their studies that they would have otherwise been unable to afford.
Content
Chapter 1: The Usefulness of MathematicsChapter 2: Logic Chapter 3: SetsChapter 4: Counting Techniques Chapter 5: Basic ProbabilityChapter 6: Binomial Probability Chapter 7: Normal ProbabilityChapter 8: Descriptive StatisticsChapter 9: Geometry Chapter 10: Arithmetic & Basic AlgebraChapter 11: FinanceChapter 12: Game TheoryAppendices: Charts and Tables