A Course of Pure Mathematics

Summary

A Course of Pure Mathematics is a classic textbook in introductory mathematical analysis, written by G. H. Hardy. It is recommended for people studying calculus. First published in 1908, it went through ten editions (up to 1952) and several reprints. It is now out of copyright in UK and is downloadable from various internet web sites. It remains one of the most popular books on pure mathematics.

A Course of Pure Mathematics
Cover of Third edition, 1921
AuthorG. H. Hardy
CountryEngland
LanguageEnglish
SubjectMathematical Analysis
PublisherCambridge University Press
Publication date
1908
ISBN0521720559

Contents edit

The book contains a large number of descriptive and study materials together with a number of difficult problems with regards to number theory analysis. The book is organized into the following chapters.

  • I. REAL VARIABLES
  • II. FUNCTIONS OF REAL VARIABLES
  • III COMPLEX NUMBERS
  • IV LIMITS OF FUNCTIONS OF A POSITIVE INTEGRAL VARIABLE
  • V LIMITS OF FUNCTIONS OF A CONTINUOUS VARIABLE. CONTINUOUS AND DISCONTINUOUS FUNCTIONS
  • VI DERIVATIVES AND INTEGRALS
  • VII ADDITIONAL THEOREMS IN THE DIFFERENTIAL AND INTEGRAL CALCULUS
  • VIII THE CONVERGENCE OF INFINITE SERIES AND INFINITE INTEGRALS
  • IX THE LOGARITHMIC, EXPONENTIAL AND CIRCULAR FUNCTIONS OF A REAL VARIABLE
  • X THE GENERAL THEORY OF THE LOGARITHMIC, EXPONENTIAL AND CIRCULAR FUNCTIONS

Review edit

The book was intended to help reform mathematics teaching in the UK, and more specifically in the University of Cambridge and in schools preparing to study higher mathematics. It was aimed directly at "scholarship level" students – the top 10% to 20% by ability. Hardy himself did not originally find a passion for mathematics, only seeing it as a way to beat other students, which he did decisively, and gain scholarships.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ "Hardy biography". History.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk. 1947-12-01. Retrieved 2016-06-15.

External links edit

Online copies edit

  • Third edition (1921) at Internet Archive
  • Third edition (1921) at Project Gutenberg
  • First edition (1908) at University of Michigan Historical Math Collection

Other edit

  • A Course of Pure Mathematics at Cambridge University Press (10 e. 1952, reissued 2008)