Mathematics Sampler: Topics for the Liberal-Arts

by Berlinghoff, Kerry E. Grant, Dale Skrien

Now in its fifth edition, "A Mathematics Sampler" presents mathematics as both science and art, focusing on the historical role of mathematics in our culture. It uses selected topics from modern mathematics—including computers, perfect numbers, and four-dimensional geometry—to exemplify the distinctive features of mathematics as an intellectual endeavor, a problem-solving tool, and a way of thinking about the rapidly changing world in which we live. "A Mathematics Sampler" also includes unique LINK sections throughout the book, each of which connects mathematical concepts with areas of interest throughout the humanities. The original course on which this text is based was cited as an innovative approach to liberal arts mathematics in Lynne Cheney's report, "50 HOURS: A Core Curriculum for College Students", published by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Author Biography: William P. Berlinghoff is a visiting professor of mathematics at Colby College. Kerry E. Grant is professor of mathematics at Southern Connecticut State University. Dale Skrien is a professor of computer science at Colby College

Genres: Nonfiction

592 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Daniel Fackrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very informative book, and I really enjoyed working through its examples. It provides a moderately gentle introduction to set and group theory, and helped me understand some of the mathematical underpinnings of probability and statistics, including the assumptions that must be made for statistical theory to hold.

I couldn't list all the topics covered, but it did a good job on each one of them.