Sets, Functions, and Logic: A Foundation Course in Mathematics, Second Edition [Paperback]

Keith Devlin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 20, 1992 | ISBN-10: 0412459809 | ISBN-13: 978-0412459801 | Edition: 2

This text provides a solid foundation in the basic logical concepts for most of the subjects encountered in university mathematics, including basic college-level algebra and analysis. The first edition has been completely rewritten and expanded in response to a decade of teaching the subjects. This text is written for the students beginning "abstract pure mathematics" at university or college level. For the student beginning to study mathematics at this level there is a distinction between what she or he has done in the past and what lies ahead. What the student needs to acquire mastery of what is virtually an entirely new language -the language of mathematics- and to adopt an entirely new way of thinking.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Chapman and Hall/CRC; 2 edition (February 20, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0412459809
• ISBN-13: 978-0412459801
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,306,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Keith Devlin is a mathematician at Stanford University in California. He is a co-founder and Executive Director of the university's H-STAR institute, a co-founder of the Stanford Media X research network, and a Senior Researcher at CSLI. He has written 31 books and over 80 published research articles. His books have been awarded the Pythagoras Prize and the Peano Prize, and his writing has earned him the Carl Sagan Award, and the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics Communications Award. In 2003, he was recognized by the California State Assembly for his "innovative work and longtime service in the field of mathematics and its relation to logic and linguistics." He is "the Math Guy" on National Public Radio. (Archived at http://www.stanford.edu/~kdevlin/MathGuy.html.)

He is a World Economic Forum Fellow and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His current research is focused on the use of different media to teach and communicate mathematics to diverse audiences. He also works on the design of information/reasoning systems for intelligence analysis. Other research interests include: theory of information, models of reasoning, applications of mathematical techniques in the study of communication, and mathematical cognition.

He writes a monthly column for the Mathematical Association of America, "Devlin's Angle": http://www.maa.org/devlin/devangle.html

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Expensive!, October 28, 2011

By 

Aaron van Alstine (Olympia, Washington) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sets, Functions, and Logic: An Introduction to Abstract Mathematics, Third Edition (Chapman Hall/CRC Mathematics Series) (Hardcover)

Seems pretty darn expensive for only 160 pages. That comes out to over $0.30/page! I like Devlin's popular mathematics books but this one doesn't justify that kind of money.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This Book is Just Terrible, October 14, 2009

By 

Robert S. Clark "Sean Clark" (Parker, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sets, Functions, and Logic (Chapman Hall/CRC Mathematics Series) (Kindle Edition)

Devlin should have titled his rotten book something like; "If you are a student, then I am purposefully trying to make your life thoroughly miserable". I am using this book right now in a proofs class. Proofs is pretty abstract material for a lot of people (myself included). The first big problem is that there is no odd answers in the back of the book. Devlin's rationale for this is that when a mathematician is proving things, the book usually has not even been written yet. Well, that is all well and good for professional proof-writers. For a student who is being introduced to the material for the VERY FIRST TIME however, some kind of a guide letting him or her know how to actually do something would be really great. Does this clown really think that I am drumming up never before considered proofs after sixteen weeks of proof writing? What a jerk!

This is further compounded by Devlin' tendency to ask questions that do not in any way reflect the material he has just written about in previous pages. Also, in the previous few pages there is a glaring lack to clarity which lends itself EASILY to total confusion for a novice proof writer.

If you are a professor looking to use this book. Please, for the love of God and out of concern for your students...find a book that actually addresses the material you are teaching, and not this chunk of mucous.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Satisfied!, September 6, 2010

By 

Baby Ruth (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sets, Functions, and Logic: An Introduction to Abstract Mathematics, Third Edition (Chapman Hall/CRC Mathematics Series) (Hardcover)

I paid half of what I could have paid for it if I bought it at our school bookstore. Thanks for the savings.