This book aims to dispel the mystery and fear experienced by students surrounding sequences, series, convergence, and their applications. The author, an accomplished female mathematician, achieves this by taking a problem solving approach, starting with fascinating problems and solving them step by step with clear explanations and illuminating diagrams. The reader will find the problems interesting, unusual, and fun, yet solved with the rigor expected in a competition. Some problems are taken directly from mathematics competitions, with the name and year of the exam provided for reference. Proof techniques are emphasized, with a variety of methods presented. The text aims to expand the mind of the reader by often presenting multiple ways to attack the same problem, as well as drawing connections with different fields of mathematics. Intuitive and visual arguments are presented alongside technical proofs to provide a well-rounded methodology. With nearly 300 problems including hints, answers, and solutions, Methods of Solving Sequences and Series Problems is an ideal resource for those learning calculus, preparing for mathematics competitions, or just looking for a worthwhile challenge. It can also be used by faculty who are looking for interesting and insightful problems that are not commonly found in other textbooks.

This book is addressed to all those who, after finishing the high school, wish a practical initiation in the domain of sequences and series. This is the first volume of the series "Mathematics for future engineers." To provide useful tools for (future) engineers and for specialists, in general, we put into evidence some practical applications of sequences and series (e.g., how to apply Lagrange's and Taylor's formulas to the calculus of approximations, the catenary expressed in terms of hyperbolic functions, etc.). We tried to make the involved mathematics as attractive as possible, by simplifying the presentation without loosing the mathematical rigor of the results. To increase accessibility and to encourage the reader to get a technical know-how about sequences and series, we provided for each newly introduced notion a series of applications and solved problems; each chapter ends by a section containing exercises and problems, each one of these being accompanied by hints and answers. The references contain, along with books, some links with sites which can be helpful for the reader.

Careful presentation of fundamentals of the theory by one of the finest modern expositors of higher mathematics. Covers functions of real and complex variables, arbitrary and null sequences, convergence and divergence, Cauchy's limit theorem, more.

This gentle introduction to discrete mathematics is written for first and second year math majors, especially those who intend to teach. The text began as a set of lecture notes for the discrete mathematics course at the University of Northern Colorado. This course serves both as an introduction to topics in discrete math and as the "introduction to proof" course for math majors. The course is usually taught with a large amount of student inquiry, and this text is written to help facilitate this. Four main topics are covered: counting, sequences, logic, and graph theory. Along the way proofs are introduced, including proofs by contradiction, proofs by induction, and combinatorial proofs. The book contains over 360 exercises, including 230 with solutions and 130 more involved problems suitable for homework. There are also Investigate! activities throughout the text to support active, inquiry based learning. While there are many fine discrete math textbooks available, this text has the following advantages: It is written to be used in an inquiry rich course. It is written to be used in a course for future math teachers. It is open source, with low cost print editions and free electronic editions.

Concerned with the logical foundations of number systems from integers to complex numbers.

This is a widely accessible introductory treatment of infinite series of real numbers, bringing the reader from basic definitions and tests to advanced results. An up-to-date presentation is given, making infinite series accessible, interesting, and useful to a wide audience, including students, teachers, and researchers. Included are elementary and advanced tests for convergence or divergence, the harmonic series, the alternating harmonic series, and closely related results. One chapter offers 107 concise, crisp, surprising results about infinite series. Another gives problems on infinite series, and solutions, which have appeared on the annual William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition. The lighter side of infinite series is treated in the concluding chapter where three puzzles, eighteen visuals, and several fallacious proofs are made available. Three appendices provide a listing of true or false statements, answers to why the harmonic series is so named, and an extensive list of published works on infinite series.

Through its engaging and unusual problems, this book demonstrates methods of reasoning necessary for learning number theory. Every technique is followed by problems (as well as detailed hints and solutions) that apply theorems immediately, so readers can solve a variety of abstract problems in a systematic, creative manner. New solutions often require the ingenious use of earlier mathematical concepts - not the memorization of formulas and facts. Questions also often permit experimental numeric validation or visual interpretation to encourage the combined use of deductive and intuitive thinking. The first chapter starts with simple topics like even and odd numbers, divisibility, and prime numbers and helps the reader to solve quite complex, Olympiad-type problems right away. It also covers properties of the perfect, amicable, and figurate numbers and introduces congruence. The next chapter begins with the Euclidean algorithm, explores the representations of integer numbers in different bases, and examines continued fractions, quadratic irrationalities, and the Lagrange Theorem. The last section of Chapter Two is an exploration of different methods of proofs. The third chapter is dedicated to solving Diophantine linear and nonlinear equations and includes different methods of solving Fermat’s (Pell’s) equations. It also covers Fermat’s factorization techniques and methods of solving challenging problems involving exponent and factorials. Chapter Four reviews the Pythagorean triple and quadruple and emphasizes their connection with geometry, trigonometry, algebraic geometry, and stereographic projection. A special case of Waring’s problem as a representation of a number by the sum of the squares or cubes of other numbers is covered, as well as quadratic residuals, Legendre and Jacobi symbols, and interesting word problems related to the properties of numbers. Appendices provide a historic overview of number theory and its main developments from the ancient cultures in Greece, Babylon, and Egypt to the modern day. Drawing from cases collected by an accomplished female mathematician, Methods in Solving Number Theory Problems is designed as a self-study guide or supplementary textbook for a one-semester course in introductory number theory. It can also be used to prepare for mathematical Olympiads. Elementary algebra, arithmetic and some calculus knowledge are the only prerequisites. Number theory gives precise proofs and theorems of an irreproachable rigor and sharpens analytical thinking, which makes this book perfect for anyone looking to build their mathematical confidence.