First Course - Textbook discussion - Page 7

only_human · 2015-11-03, 03:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Batalov

There was once a thread about the automatic price gougers. When the prices are with cents, it is frequently a telltale sign of an algorithm (some storefronts are using programs to set the prices). The weirdest anomalies happen when one robot is outbidding another (but adds 15% so that it could buy it, sell it from his account, pay Amazon and still make a profit); the prices can go to millions of dollars (there were precedents).

Back then we were talking about this book:

Amazon’s $23,698,655.93 book about flies
How A Book About Flies Came To Be Priced $24 Million On Amazon

Our own statistical belch still has the number theory book at high sales rating for that specific category.

Quote:

Product Details
Hardcover: 139 pages
Publisher: Wadsworth Pub Co (November 1987)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0534085148
ISBN-13: 978-0534085148
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
Average Customer Review: Be the first to review this item
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#59 in Books > Science & Math > Mathematics > Pure Mathematics > Number Theory
#1394 in Books > Textbooks > Science & Mathematics > Mathematics

Xyzzy · 2016-02-10, 02:05

Would either of these two free books work for this project?

(Is this project dead?)

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13693
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38769

Nick · 2016-02-10, 13:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

Would either of these two free books work for this project?

(Is this project dead?)

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13693
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38769

The first book ("The Theory of Numbers" by R.D. Carmichael) may certainly be useful, though it suffers a little from being 100 years old. The way mathematics is practised changed markedly in the first half of the 20th century.

The second book ("A course of pure mathematics" by G.H. Hardy) is famous for its misleading title, as the book is about what we would now call Analysis, i.e. the mathematics of continuously changing values (or the theory behind Calculus). Analytic Number Theory is an important specialization within Number Theory, but that would be something for a later, separate course.

Other free sources which may also be useful:

Prof. Samir Siksek's lecture notes from Warwick:
http://homepages.warwick.ac.uk/~mase...nt/ntnotes.pdf

MIT Open Courseware lecture notes:
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mathemati...lecture-notes/

For anyone willing and able to part with a little money, "An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers" by G.H. Hardy and E.M. Wright (6th edition) remains the best option (in my opinion):
https://global.oup.com/academic/prod...cc=nl&lang=en&

I agree that it would be a shame if this project dies!

drkirkby · 2021-06-16, 10:39

I think it would be useful if there was a new forum, devoted elusively to number theory books. One thread per book - if there are multiple editions of the book, then one thread per edition.

People could comment on the books, add corrections, add better explanations, request help interpreting sections they find confusing.

The reviews on Amazon are sometimes helpful, but often useless like "quick delivery".

One number theory book I found
https://www.amazon.com/Elementary-Nu...dp/1259025764/
has 296 reviews on Amazon, but many are from India where the book is published. Many of the reviews are just one sentence long. Maybe it is an excellent book, but I became a bit suspicious by the number of glowing reviews.

Lots of maths texts quote Hardy and Wright as a reference. I don't have a copy, but looked on PDFdrive and had a quick look. I soon concluded that the nomenclature was substantially different from more modern text books. I personally found it hard to follow, so I will not be buying a copy.

Comments?

MODERATOR NOTE: Thread merged with existing thread on essentially the same topic.

Dr Sardonicus · 2021-06-16, 12:24

This thread, last post in February 2016, is devoted to number theory textbooks. It might be amusing to check the resources in it for "link rot." Perhaps this thread should be merged with that one.

Done.

This thread is more current, but is devoted to resources for learning mathematics in general, not just number theory.

Uncwilly · 2021-06-16, 13:43

Another case of search more, post less.

drkirkby · 2021-06-16, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

Another case of search more, post less.

What I was suggesting was something very different to the links above. I'm suggesting a forum where each number theory textbook has its own individual thread.

Uncwilly · 2021-06-16, 15:02

When there is enough discussion in the threads above, we can spin out a thread on each book if needed.
There hasn't been much discussion about the books.

Dr Sardonicus · 2021-06-16, 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

When there is enough discussion in the threads above, we can spin out a thread on each book if needed.
There hasn't been much discussion about the books.

What - you don't want a forum with a bunch of threads, each consisting of a single post?

2021-06-16, 10:39	#70
drkirkby "David Kirkby" Jan 2021 Althorne, Essex, UK 2×3×61 Posts	Suggestion: Have a forum devoted to number theory books I think it would be useful if there was a new forum, devoted elusively to number theory books. One thread per book - if there are multiple editions of the book, then one thread per edition. People could comment on the books, add corrections, add better explanations, request help interpreting sections they find confusing. The reviews on Amazon are sometimes helpful, but often useless like "quick delivery". One number theory book I found https://www.amazon.com/Elementary-Nu...dp/1259025764/ has 296 reviews on Amazon, but many are from India where the book is published. Many of the reviews are just one sentence long. Maybe it is an excellent book, but I became a bit suspicious by the number of glowing reviews. Lots of maths texts quote Hardy and Wright as a reference. I don't have a copy, but looked on PDFdrive and had a quick look. I soon concluded that the nomenclature was substantially different from more modern text books. I personally found it hard to follow, so I will not be buying a copy. Comments? MODERATOR NOTE: Thread merged with existing thread on essentially the same topic. Last fiddled with by Dr Sardonicus on 2021-06-16 at 15:53 Reason: As indicated

2021-06-16, 12:24	#71
Dr Sardonicus Feb 2017 Nowhere 1223₁₆ Posts	This thread, last post in February 2016, is devoted to number theory textbooks. It might be amusing to check the resources in it for "link rot." Perhaps this thread should be merged with that one. Done. This thread is more current, but is devoted to resources for learning mathematics in general, not just number theory. Last fiddled with by Dr Sardonicus on 2021-06-16 at 15:39 Reason: As indicated

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2016-02-10, 02:05	#68
Xyzzy "Mike" Aug 2002 3·2,741 Posts	Would either of these two free books work for this project? (Is this project dead?) https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13693 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38769

2021-06-16, 13:43	#72
Uncwilly 6809 > 6502 """"""""""""""""""" Aug 2003 101×103 Posts 2³×1,223 Posts	Another case of search more, post less.

2021-06-16, 15:02	#74
Uncwilly 6809 > 6502 """"""""""""""""""" Aug 2003 101×103 Posts 23070₈ Posts	When there is enough discussion in the threads above, we can spin out a thread on each book if needed. There hasn't been much discussion about the books.