Who Is Fourier? A Mathematical Adventure 2nd Edition

Category: Mathematics
Author: Transnational College of Lex
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Comments

by ljw1001   2020-07-07
I would second the recommendation for Who is Fourier? A Mathematical Adventure. It's an unusual and engaging introduction to waves, Fourier coefficients, and transforms. The slope is gentle but not dumbed down. https://www.amazon.com/Who-Fourier-Mathematical-Adventure-2n....
by rramadass   2019-07-19
I suggest the following approach;

Start with some school textbooks for grades 8-12 i.e. Secondary Education. This is more for a refresher course in the absolute basics.

The above can be supplemented with the following books to develop intuition;

1) Who is Fourier - https://www.amazon.com/Who-Fourier-Mathematical-Adventure-2n...

2) Functions and Graphs - https://www.amazon.com/Functions-Graphs-Dover-Books-Mathemat...

After this is when you enter undergraduate studies and you have to fight the dragon of "Modern Maths" which is more abstract and conceptual. In addition to standard textbooks; i suggest the following;

1) Concepts of Modern Mathematics - https://www.amazon.com/Concepts-Modern-Mathematics-Dover-Boo...

2) Mathematics: Its Content, Methods and Meaning - https://www.amazon.com/Concepts-Modern-Mathematics-Dover-Boo...

3) Mathematical Techniques (i am linking this so you can see the reviews but get the latest edition) - https://www.amazon.com/Mathematical-Techniques-Dominic-Jorda...

Finally, if you would like to learn about all the new-fangled mathematics your best bets are;

a) The Princeton Companion to Mathematics - https://www.amazon.com/Princeton-Companion-Mathematics-Timot...

b) The Princeton Companion to Applied Mathematics - https://www.amazon.com/Princeton-Companion-Applied-Mathemati...

One important piece of advice that i have is to become comfortable with the Symbols, Notation and Formalism used in Mathematics. Most students are intimidated by the Formalism (which is nothing more than a precise form of shorthand to express abstract concepts) and give up on studying Mathematics altogether. This is a shame since it is merely the Form and not the Function of Mathematics.

by mojomark   2019-04-12
Fellow Marine Engineer (KP) here, and just wrapping up my Master's in CS Data Science. If you're like me, ou got rushed through a number of higher level match (between bar crawls), passing tests, but not digesting.

So, the feer of a math intensive grad program (and admission had me worried). My CS program offered some math refresher, but I ended up just jumpting in without it. If the program is decent, you will be guided along at a digestable pace. As a responsible adult with a hunger to learn, and you will enjoy and digest more. In a curriculum, you'll also have peers/teachers to help you when absolutely stumped - which will happen.

For books - I just have one that I saw referenced here on HN, which is a little odd, but highly recommend for understanding Fourier transforms [1].

1. Who Is Fourier? A Mathematical Adventure 2nd Edition... Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0964350432/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i...

by ljw1001   2018-07-29
This book isn't a text book, and doesn't want to be, but for Fourier Analysis, "Who is Fourier? A Mathematical Adventure" provides an introduction to the subject that, IMO, few books can match: https://www.amazon.com/Who-Fourier-Mathematical-Adventure-2n...
by tzs   2017-08-19
There's an interesting book about Fourier and his series and transform written for a general audience: "Who Is Fourier? A Mathematical Adventure" [1], by an organization called the Transnational College of LEX (which seems to have some sort of connection with Hippo Family Club[2]).

The only math assumed going in is basic high school algebra.

They also have a book on quantum mechanics ("What is Quantum Mechanics? A Physics Adventure" [3]) and biology ("What is DNA? A Biology Adventure"[4]).

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Who-Fourier-Mathematical-Adventure-2n...

[2] https://www.amazon.com/What-Quantum-Mechanics-Physics-Advent...

[4] https://www.amazon.com/What-Biology-Adventure-Transnational-...