Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by earl_gray 1515 days ago
Richard Hamming’s “Methods of Mathematics Applied to Calculus, Probability, and Statistics” is a wonderful introduction to calculus from one of those rare individuals who mastered the interplay between applications of mathematics and its theory. It’s packed with insights from a true veteran. He aims to teach you to view and interact with mathematics as a living, breathing, occasionally messy but beautiful thing; and in my opinion he manages to do so with a rare humanity.

He was one of the gems of mathematical exposition. If you’ve studied any information theory you probably know his surname well. His other books are also excellent.

It begins with a lovely quotation: “every scientist owes a labour of love to his field”. His work embodies that. There are lots of exercises, and it includes answers to enough of them for you to check you’re on the right track.

3 comments

Equally "The Art of Doing Science and Engineering" by Hamming is one of the best books around on the philosophy of problem solving, and an excellent primer on core concepts in signals processing, information theory, and computing.
Fantastic recommendation! Hamming's writing is so clear and inspiring.

Not a book but his speech "You and your research" is quite good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1zDuOPkMSw

Do you have a similar book to study for "Highschool maths" before starting this one?
The Art of Problem Solving books are great and have complete solution manuals available as well.