Bringing to life the joys and difficulties of mathematics this book is a must read for anyone with a love of puzzles, a head for figures or who is considering further study of mathematics.
’’On the Study and Difficulties of Mathematics’’ is a book written by accomplished mathematician Augustus De Morgan (1806–1871). Now republished by Forgotten Books, De Morgan discusses many different branches of the subject in some detail. He doesn't shy away from complexity but is always entertaining.
One purpose of De Morgan's book is to serve as a guide for students of mathematics in selecting the most appropriate course of study as well as to identify the most challenging mental concepts a devoted learner will face. "No person commences the study of mathematics without soon discovering that it is of a very different nature from those to which he has been accustomed," states De Morgan in his introduction. The book is divided into chapters, each of which is devoted to a different mathematical concept. From the elementary rules of arithmetic, to the study of algebra, to geometrical reasoning, De Morgan touches on all of the concepts a math learner must master in order to find success in the field.
While a brilliant mathematician in his own right, De Morgan's greatest skill may have been as a teacher. ’’On the Study and Difficulties of Mathematics’’ is a well written treatise that is concise in its explanations but broad in its scope while remaining interesting even for the layman.
’’On the Study and Difficulties of Mathematics’’ is an exceptional book. Serious students of mathematics would be wise to read De Morgan's work and will certainly be better mathematicians for it.