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Qiaochu_Yuan comments on Open Thread for February 11 - 17 - Less Wrong Discussion

3 Post author: Coscott 11 February 2014 06:08PM

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Comment author: cursed 11 February 2014 08:33:42PM *  4 points [-]

I'm interested in learning pure math, starting from precalculus. Can anyone give advise on what textbooks I should use? Here's my current list (a lot of these textbooks were taken from the MIRI and LW's best textbook list):

  • Calculus for Science and Engineering
  • Calculus - Spivak
  • Linear Algebra and its Applications - Strang
  • Linear Algebra Done Right
  • Div, Grad, Curl and All That (Vector calc)
  • Fundamentals of Number Theory - LeVeque
  • Basic Set Theory
  • Discrete Mathematics and its Applications
  • Introduction to Mathematical Logic
  • Abstract Algebra - Dummit

I'm well versed in simple calculus, going back to precalc to fill gaps I may have in my knowledge. I feel like I'm missing some major gaps in knowledge jumping from the undergrad to graduate level. Do any math PhDs have any advice?

Thanks!

Comment author: Qiaochu_Yuan 12 February 2014 01:24:50AM *  1 point [-]

I think people generally agree that analysis, topology, and abstract algebra together provide a pretty solid foundation for graduate study. (Lots of interesting stuff that's accessible to undergraduates doesn't easily fall under any of these headings, e.g. combinatorics, but having a foundation in these headings will equip you to learn those things quickly.)

For analysis the standard recommendation is baby Rudin, which I find dry, but it has good exercises and it's a good filter: it'll be hard to do well in, say, math grad school if you can't get through Rudin.

For point-set topology the standard recommendation is Munkres, which I generally like. The problem I have with Munkres is that it doesn't really explain why the axioms of a topological space are what they are and not something else; if you want to know the answer to this question you should read Vickers. Go through Munkres after going through Rudin.

I don't have a ready recommendation for abstract algebra because I mostly didn't learn it from textbooks. I'm not all that satisfied with any particular abstract algebra textbooks I've found. An option which might be a little too hard but which is at least fairly comprehensive is Ash, which is also freely legally available online.

For the sake of exposure to a wide variety of topics and culture I also strongly, strongly recommend that you read the Princeton Companion. This is an amazing book; the only bad thing I have to say about it is that it didn't exist when I was a high school senior. I have other reading recommendations along these lines (less for being hardcore, more for pleasure and being exposed to interesting things) at my blog.

Comment author: Vladimir_Nesov 12 February 2014 02:03:54AM *  3 points [-]

For analysis the standard recommendation is baby Rudin, which I find dry, but it has good exercises and it's a good filter: it'll be hard to do well in, say, math grad school if you can't get through Rudin.

I feel that it's only good as a test or for review, and otherwise a bad recommendation, made worse by its popularity (which makes its flaws harder to take seriously), and the widespread "I'm smart enough to understand it, so it works for me" satisficing attitude. Pugh's "Real Mathematical Analysis" is a better alternative for actually learning the material.

Comment author: MrMind 12 February 2014 10:19:04AM 0 points [-]

For point-set topology the standard recommendation is Munkres, which I generally like.

I would preface any textbook on topology with the first chapter of Ishan's "Differential geometry". It builds the reason for studying topology and why the axioms have the shape they have in a wonderful crescendo, and at the end even dabs a bit into nets (non point-set topology). It's very clear and builds a lot of intuition.

Also, as a side dish in a topology lunch, the peculiar "Counterexamples in topology".