Mathematics Library

Many mathematics titles are to be found in the Mervyn Peake Library. Some specialist material, particularly suitable for Sixth Form mathematicians, is available on extended loan from the Mathematics Department.

Reading, other than of textbooks or notes, is an unfamiliar activity for mathematics students. Even those having clear mathematical ambitions can be surprised to learn that they should read; and they will certainly need advice concerning what they should read and how they should read.

Recent acquisitions include:

• Derbyshire, Prime Obsession
• Gray, The Hilbert Challenge
• Higgins, Mathematics for the Curious
• du Sautoy, The Music of the Primes
• Stewart, Why Beauty Is Truth
• Stillwell, Mathematics and Its History

Reviews:

From Here to Infinity (Ian Stewart)
This is an overview of the typical problems that mathematicians have been working on. Although the mathematics is ten years old, and there have been many developments since then, Professor Stewart does introduce each subject in a way that is very accessible to an interested sixth-former, and may even be begun by an able year 11 student. It is very well worth a read to see just how far mathematics goes beyond the school syllabus. (JMM)

Calculus (Michael Spivak)
This is a seminal introduction into mathematical analysis which develops our understanding of calculus. Its main aim is to make the notion of limits, continuity and differentiability precise and to encourage the mathematician to use rigour in solving problems. While the subject matter can be dry in places, Professor Spivak does make use of counterexamples such as functions which are nowhere differentiable, or even nowhere continuous! This text will suit a sixth-former who is willing to put in the effort in order to think more precisely about how mathematics is done. (JMM)