Every year, thousands of students in the USA declare mathematics as their major. Many are extremely intelligent and hardworking. However, even the best will encounter challenges, because upper-level mathematics involves not only independent study and learning from lectures, but also a fundamental shift from calculation to proof. This shift is demanding but it need not be mysterious -- research has revealed many insights into the mathematical thinking required, and this book translates these into practical advice for a student audience. It covers every aspect of studying as a mathematics major, from tackling abstract intellectual challenges to interacting with professors and making good use of study time. Part 1 discusses the nature of upper-level mathematics, and explains how students can adapt and extend their existing skills in order to develop good understanding. Part 2 covers study skills as these relate to mathematics, and suggests practical approaches to learning effectively while enjoying undergraduate life. As the first mathematics-specific study guide, this friendly, practical text is essential reading for any mathematics major.

In Math for Programmers you’ll explore important mathematical concepts through hands-on coding. Filled with graphics and more than 300 exercises and mini-projects, this book unlocks the door to interesting–and lucrative!–careers in some of today’s hottest fields. As you tackle the basics of linear algebra, calculus, and machine learning, you’ll master the key Python libraries used to turn them into real-world software applications. Summary To score a job in data science, machine learning, computer graphics, and cryptography, you need to bring strong math skills to the party. Math for Programmers teaches the math you need for these hot careers, concentrating on what you need to know as a developer. Filled with lots of helpful graphics and more than 200 exercises and mini-projects, this book unlocks the door to interesting–and lucrative!–careers in some of today’s hottest programming fields. Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications. About the technology Skip the mathematical jargon: This one-of-a-kind book uses Python to teach the math you need to build games, simulations, 3D graphics, and machine learning algorithms. Discover how algebra and calculus come alive when you see them in code! About the book In Math for Programmers you’ll explore important mathematical concepts through hands-on coding. Filled with graphics and more than 300 exercises and mini-projects, this book unlocks the door to interesting–and lucrative!–careers in some of today’s hottest fields. As you tackle the basics of linear algebra, calculus, and machine learning, you’ll master the key Python libraries used to turn them into real-world software applications. What's inside Vector geometry for computer graphics Matrices and linear transformations Core concepts from calculus Simulation and optimization Image and audio processing Machine learning algorithms for regression and classification About the reader For programmers with basic skills in algebra. About the author Paul Orland is a programmer, software entrepreneur, and math enthusiast. He is co-founder of Tachyus, a start-up building predictive analytics software for the energy industry. You can find him online at www.paulor.land. Table of Contents 1 Learning math with code PART I - VECTORS AND GRAPHICS 2 Drawing with 2D vectors 3 Ascending to the 3D world 4 Transforming vectors and graphics 5 Computing transformations with matrices 6 Generalizing to higher dimensions 7 Solving systems of linear equations PART 2 - CALCULUS AND PHYSICAL SIMULATION 8 Understanding rates of change 9 Simulating moving objects 10 Working with symbolic expressions 11 Simulating force fields 12 Optimizing a physical system 13 Analyzing sound waves with a Fourier series PART 3 - MACHINE LEARNING APPLICATIONS 14 Fitting functions to data 15 Classifying data with logistic regression 16 Training neural networks

Looking for a head start in your undergraduate degree in mathematics? Maybe you've already started your degree and feel bewildered by the subject you previously loved? Don't panic! This friendly companion will ease your transition to real mathematical thinking. Working through the book you will develop an arsenal of techniques to help you unlock the meaning of definitions, theorems and proofs, solve problems, and write mathematics effectively. All the major methods of proof - direct method, cases, induction, contradiction and contrapositive - are featured. Concrete examples are used throughout, and you'll get plenty of practice on topics common to many courses such as divisors, Euclidean algorithms, modular arithmetic, equivalence relations, and injectivity and surjectivity of functions. The material has been tested by real students over many years so all the essentials are covered. With over 300 exercises to help you test your progress, you'll soon learn how to think like a mathematician.

What can you do with a degree in math? This book addresses this question with 125 career profiles written by people with degrees and backgrounds in mathematics. With job titles ranging from sports analyst to science writer to inventory specialist to CEO, the volume provides ample evidence that one really can do nearly anything with a degree in mathematics. These professionals share how their mathematical education shaped their career choices and how mathematics, or the skills acquired in a mathematics education, is used in their daily work. The degrees earned by the authors profiled here are a good mix of bachelors, masters, and PhDs. With 114 completely new profiles since the third edition, the careers featured within accurately reflect current trends in the job market. College mathematics faculty, high school teachers, and career counselors will all find this a useful resource. Career centers, mathematics departments, and student lounges should have a copy available for student browsing. In addition to the career profiles, the volume contains essays from career counseling professionals on the topics of job-searching, interviewing, and applying to graduate school.

"The ancient Greeks argued that the best life was filled with beauty, truth, justice, play and love. The mathematician Francis Su knows just where to find them."--Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine" This is perhaps the most important mathematics book of our time. Francis Su shows mathematics is an experience of the mind and, most important, of the heart."--James Tanton, Global Math Project For mathematician Francis Su, a society without mathematical affection is like a city without concerts, parks, or museums. To miss out on mathematics is to live without experiencing some of humanity's most beautiful ideas. In this profound book, written for a wide audience but especially for those disenchanted by their past experiences, an award-winning mathematician and educator weaves parables, puzzles, and personal reflections to show how mathematics meets basic human desires--such as for play, beauty, freedom, justice, and love--and cultivates virtues essential for human flourishing. These desires and virtues, and the stories told here, reveal how mathematics is intimately tied to being human. Some lessons emerge from those who have struggled, including philosopher Simone Weil, whose own mathematical contributions were overshadowed by her brother's, and Christopher Jackson, who discovered mathematics as an inmate in a federal prison. Christopher's letters to the author appear throughout the book and show how this intellectual pursuit can--and must--be open to all.

Are you a mathematics major or thinking about becoming one? This friendly guidebook is for you, no matter where you are in your studies. For those just starting out, there are: interactive exercises to help you chart your personalized course, brief overviews of the typical courses you will encounter during your studies, recommended extracurricular activities that can enrich your mathematical journey. Mathematics majors looking for effective ways to support their success will discover: practical examples of dealing with setbacks and challenges in mathematics, a primer on study skills, including particular advice like how to effectively read mathematical literature and learn mathematically focused programming. Students thinking about life after graduation will find: advice for seeking jobs outside academia, guidance for applying to graduate programs, a collection of interviews with former mathematics majors now working in a wide variety of careers—they share their experience and practical advice for breaking into their field. Packed with a wealth of information, Navigating the Math Major is your comprehensive resource to the undergraduate mathematics degree program.