Real Analysis: A Historical Approach

A provocative look at the tools and history of real analysis This new edition of Real Analysis: A Historical Approach continues to serve as an interesting read for students of analysis. Combining historical coverage with a superb introductory treatment, this book helps readers easily make the transition from concrete to abstract ideas. The book begins with an exciting sampling of classic and famous problems first posed by some of the greatest mathematicians of all time. Archimedes, Fermat, Newton, and Euler are each summoned in turn, illuminating the utility of infinite, power, and trigonometric series in both pure and applied mathematics. Next, Dr. Stahl develops the basic tools of advanced calculus, which introduce the various aspects of the completeness of the real number system as well as sequential continuity and differentiability and lead to the Intermediate and Mean Value Theorems. The Second Edition features: A chapter on the Riemann integral, including the subject of uniform continuity Explicit coverage of the epsilon-delta convergence A discussion of the modern preference for the viewpoint of sequences over that of series Throughout the book, numerous applications and examples reinforce concepts and demonstrate the validity of historical methods and results, while appended excerpts from original historical works shed light on the concerns of influential mathematicians in addition to the difficulties encountered in their work. Each chapter concludes with exercises ranging in level of complexity, and partial solutions are provided at the end of the book. Real Analysis: A Historical Approach, Second Edition is an ideal book for courses on real analysis and mathematical analysis at the undergraduate level. The book is also a valuable resource for secondary mathematics teachers and mathematicians.

Table of Contents:
Preface to the Second Edition Acknowledgments 1. Archimedes and the Parabola 1.1 The Area of the Parabolic Segment 1.2 The Geometry of the Parabola 2. Fermat, Differentiation, and Integration 2.1 Fermat’s Calculus 3. Newton’s Calculus (Part 1) 3.1 The Fractional Binomial Theorem 3.2 Areas and Infinite Series 3.3 Newton’s Proofs 4. Newton’s Calculus (Part 2) 4.1 The Solution of Differential Equations 4.2 The Solution of Algebraic Equations Chapter Appendix. Mathematica implementations of Newton’s algorithm 5. Euler 5.1 Trigonometric Series 6. The Real Numbers 6.1 An Informal Introduction 6.2 Ordered Fields 6.3 Completeness and Irrational Numbers 6.4 The Euclidean Process 6.5 Functions 7. Sequences and Their Limits 7.1 The Definitions 7.2 Limit Theorems 8. The Cauchy Property 8.1 Limits of Monotone Sequences 8.2 The Cauchy Property 9. The Convergence of Infinite Series 9.1 Stock Series 9.2 Series of Positive Terms 9.3 Series of Arbitrary Terms 9.4 The Most Celebrated Problem 10. Series of Functions 10.1 Power Series 10.2 Trigonometric Series 11. Continuity 11.1 An Informal Introduction 11.2 The Limit of a Function 11.3 Continuity 11.4 Properties of Continuous Functions 12. Differentiability 12.1 An Informal Introduction to Differentiation 12.2 The Derivative 12.3 The Consequences of Differentiability 12.4　　 Integrability 13. Uniform Convergence 13.1 Uniform and Non-Uniform Convergence 13.2 Consequences of Uniform Convergence 14. The Vindication 14.1 Trigonometric Series 14.2 Power Series 15. The Riemann Integral 15.1 Continuity Revisited 15.2 Lower and Upper Sums 15.3 Integrability Appendix A. Excerpts from "Quadrature of the Parabola" by Archimedes Appendix B. On a Method for Evaluation of Maxima and Minima by Pierre de Fermat Appendix C. From a Letter to Henry Oldenburg on the Binomial Series (June 13, 1676) by Isaac Newton Appendix D. From a Letter to Henry Oldenburg on the Binomial Series (October 24, 1676) by Isaac Newton Appendix E. Excerpts from "Of Analysis by Equations of an Infinite Number of Terms" by Isaac Newton Appendix F. Excerpts from "Subsiduum Calculi Sinuum" by Leonhard Euler) Solutions to Selected Exercises Bibliography Index

About the Author :
SAUL STAHL, PhD, is Professor in the Department of Mathematics at The University of Kansas. He has published numerous journal articles in his areas of research interest, which include combinatorics, discrete mathematics, and topological graph theory. Dr. Stahl is the author of Introductory Modern Algebra: A Historical Approach and Introduction to Topology and Geometry, both published by Wiley. He was awarded the Carl B. Allendoerfer Award from the Mathematical Association of America for expository articles in both 1986 and 2006.

Review :
“Stahl’s book, though relatively modest in its historical ambit, is a workmanlike and very readable introduction to real analysis with a distinctive flavour provided by a plethora of accessible exercises, many of which are historically motivated.”  (The Mathematical Gazette, 1 March 2014)