The Method of Coordinates - by I M Gelfand & E G Glagoleva & A a Kirilov (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"The Method of Coordinates" is one volume in a series of books that present basic mathematics in a clear and simple form. The book describes a way of transferring images into formulas, describing pictures by numbers. The content is fundamental to the study of calculus and other mathematical topics. All through this volume, one finds a careful description of the step-by-step thinking process that leads up to the correct definition of a concept or to an argument that clinches in the proof of a theorem. High school students or teachers, reading this book will learn an enormous amount of good mathematics. More importantly, they would also get a glimpse of how mathematics is done.

Review Quotes

"All through both volumes ['Functions & Graphs' and 'The Methods of Coordinates'], one finds a careful description of the step-by-step thinking process that leads up to the correct definition of a concept or to an argument that clinches in the proof of a theorem. We are ... very fortunate that an account of this caliber has finally made it to printed pages... Anyone who has taken this guided tour will never be intimidated ever again... High school students (or teachers) reading through these two books would learn an enormous amount of good mathematics. More importantly, they would also get a glimpse of how mathematics is done."

--- H. Wu, The Mathematical Intelligencer

"This book is a concise and compact treatment of the essential ideas of coordinate geometry. The authors demonstrate powerfully how geomtric ides may be communicated and studied effectively without the aid of pictures. Graphics are of course of vital importance int he methods of Euclidean geometry. However, the methods of coordinate geometry are able to transform pure geometric ideas into algebraic manipulations where the meaning is very clear once the formalism is learnt. In particular the book demonstrates the value of conveying information in the form of images embedded in formulas. This is very useful in the transmission of information by electronic means. . . This book is a valuable tool for teaching the redimentary concepts of analytical geometry. It contains a number of excellent examples and exercises which go further than a mere introductory programme. the exercises, while not numerous, are very thought-provoking and are bound to pose a serious challenge to the interested student."

---The Mathematical Gazette