This book developed slowly through notes starting around 1975.
It's meant as a first introduction to proofs in analysis, drawing
upon the reader's background
in one-variable calculus; it's not a
technical reference work.
It has a lot of unnecessary
explanations and cautionary warnings,
based on what I've seen on students'
problem sets.
It has some attempts to smooth over some standard early
bumps in the path to understanding.
It emphasizes estimation and
approximation as the basic tools of analysis,
rather than
concepts from algebra
or point-set topology.
Students who think they
might need some analysis for their work
but don't like
mathematics
have been able to read it (without complaints), and
it has even converted a few.
Some stick close to their desks and never go to class -- they
read the book,
hand in the frequent homework, take the tests and
do OK.
It has been used at small colleges and state universities.
To get the flavor in a few minutes, I suggest looking
at these links in order,
to get an idea of what reading it will
be like.
Its four-page Preface can give some
idea of the book's origins and style.
What's in the book (and
what's not), and
the order of topics.
These are a few sections, totalling about 15
pages in all,
showing text material, Questions, Exercises, and Problems,
to give you a sample of the writing style and level.
They are
selected from the first three chapters:
Chapter 1: Real Numbers and Monotone Sequences
Chapter 2: Estimations and Approximations
Chapter 3: The Limit of a Sequence
PRINTING: There is only one edition so far, but several printings.
The printing is identified by a number sequence like
10 9 8 7 6 5 4
on the left-hand page facing the dedication page;
the
sequence shown identifies the fourth printing, for example.
CORRECTIONS:
I would be grateful to hear about
any needed mathematical
corrections not listed below,
as well as your experience
with the book,
as teacher or student.
Write to: mattuck@mit.edu
Thanks.