文档介绍：Mathematical
Problems and Proofs
Combinatorics, Number Theory,
and Geometry
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Mathematical
Problems and Proofs
Combinatorics, Number Theory,
and Geometry
Branislav Kisacanin∨
Delphi Delco Electronics Systems
Kokomo, Indiana
Kluwer Academic Publishers
New York / Boston / Dordrecht / London / Moscow
eBook ISBN: 0-306-46963-4
Print ISBN: 0-306-45967-1
©2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers
New York, Boston, Dordrecht, London, Moscow
All rights reserved
No part of this eBook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without written consent from the Publisher
Created in the United States of America
Visit Kluwer Online at:
and Kluwer's eBookstore at:
To my love Saska∨
and
my hometown Novi Sad
Preface
For Whom Is this Book?
This book is written for those who enjoy seeing mathematical formulas and
ideas, interesting problems, and elegant solutions.
More specifically it is written for talented high-school students who are
hungry formore mathematics and undergraduates who would like to see illus-
trations of abstract mathematical concepts and to learn a bit about their historic
origin.
It is written with that hope that many readers will learn how to read math-
ematical literature in general.
How Do We Read Mathematics Books?
Mathematics books are read with pencil and paper at hand. The reader some-
times wishes to check a derivation, complete some missing steps, or try a
different solution.
It is often very useful pare one book’s explanation to another. It is
also very useful to use the index and locate some other references to a theorem,
formula, or a name.
Many people do not know that mathematics books are read in more than
one way: The first reading is just browsing — the reader makes the first contact
with the book. At that time the reader forms a first impression about contents,
readability, and illus