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#1 2014-06-22 10:22:33
- NeoXx
- Member
- Registered: 2013-02-04
- Posts: 8
With which book to start?
Hello,
I just finished A-Levels (high school) and I bought two maths books to study over summer.
I got Spivak's Calculus and "A Course of Pure Mathematics" by G.H.Hardy.
With which book should I start? Or should I learn from them simultaneously?
Regards,
NeoXx
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#2 2014-06-22 13:19:07
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: With which book to start?
Hi;
Simultaneously of course. What is wrong with bouncing from one to another if necessary?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#3 2014-06-23 02:25:22
- ShivamS
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- Registered: 2011-02-07
- Posts: 3,648
Re: With which book to start?
You don't need Hardy's book.
Go with Spivak. You can't really do both at once - Spivak's very difficult.
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#4 2014-06-24 00:20:42
- NeoXx
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- Registered: 2013-02-04
- Posts: 8
Re: With which book to start?
You don't need Hardy's book.
Go with Spivak. You can't really do both at once - Spivak's very difficult.
Why don't I need Hardy's book? Does Spivak cover some pure maths?
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#5 2014-06-24 00:21:42
- NeoXx
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- Registered: 2013-02-04
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Re: With which book to start?
Hi;
Simultaneously of course. What is wrong with bouncing from one to another if necessary?
That's what I thought. Thanks!
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#6 2014-06-24 00:35:19
- ShivamS
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- Registered: 2011-02-07
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Re: With which book to start?
Hardy is outdated.
Calculus is a part of pure mathematics.
There are a lot of better analysis books available.
Last edited by ShivamS (2014-06-24 11:47:48)
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#7 2014-06-24 00:55:05
- NeoXx
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- Registered: 2013-02-04
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Re: With which book to start?
Hardy is outdated.
Calculus is a part of pure math
There are a lot of better analysis books available.
Ah okay, thought it was a good book.
Thanks.
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#8 2014-06-24 04:17:59
- ShivamS
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- Registered: 2011-02-07
- Posts: 3,648
Re: With which book to start?
It is a good book, but I don't think it's worth going through it right now when there are many better books available.
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#9 2014-06-24 05:08:46
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: With which book to start?
I do agree about Hardy. Never did like the way he did math.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#10 2014-06-24 11:42:32
- ShivamS
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- Registered: 2011-02-07
- Posts: 3,648
Re: With which book to start?
In regards to what you were told by people on another forum (someone told you that going through Hardy's book first will make Spivak significantly easier), it is not true. The problems in Spivak are difficult for me right now, even though I have gone way past Calculus. The problems posted in the other thread from a national Olympiad are still difficult, even though they only cover high school mathematics and I am way past that. The reason is that these problems require a deep understanding and ingenuity and will remain difficult for all mathematicians.
Since you finished your A-levels, you probably know some Calculus, which is basically all you need to get started with Spivak. If you really want, work through a less rigorous book like Stewart on the side.
Last edited by ShivamS (2014-06-24 11:47:18)
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