Transition to Advanced Mathematics

Danilo R. Diedrichs is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Wheaton College in Illinois. Raised and educated in Switzerland, he holds a PhD in applied mathematical and computational sciences from the University of Iowa, as well as a master’s degree in civil engineering from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale in Lausanne, Switzerland. His research interests are in dynamical systems modeling applied to biology, ecology, and epidemiology.Stephen Lovett is a Professor of Mathematics at Wheaton College in Illinois. He holds a PhD in representation theory from Northeastern University. His other books include Abstract Algebra: Structures and Applications (2015), Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces, with Tom Banchoff (2016), and Differential Geometry of Manifolds (2019).

• Part I - Introduction to Proofs. 1. Logic and Sets. 1.1. Logic and Propositions. 1.2. Sets. 1.3. Logical Equivalences. 1.4. Operations on Sets. 1.5. Predicates and Quantifiers. 2. Arguments and Proofs. 2.1. Constructing Valid Arguments. 2.2. First Proof Strategies. 2.3. Proof Strategies. 3. Functions. 3.1. Functions. 3.2. Properties of Functions. 3.3. Choice Functions and the Axiom of Choice. 4. Properties of the Integers. 4.1. A Definition of the Integers. 4.2. Divisibility. 4.3. Greatest Common Divisor; Least Common Multiple. 4.4. Prime Numbers. 4.5. Induction. 4.6. Modular Arithmetic. 5. Counting and Combinatorial Arguments. 5.1. Counting Techniques. 5.2. Concept of a Combinatorial Proof. 5.3. Pigeonhole Principle. 5.4. Countability and Cardinality. 6. Relations. 6.1. Relations. 6.2. Partial Orders. 6.3. Equivalence Relations. 6.4. Quotient Sets. Part II - Culture, History, Reading, and Writing. 7. Mathematical Culture, Vocation, and Careers. 7.1. 21st Century Mathematics. 7.2. Collaboration, Associations, Conferences. 7.3. Studying Upper-Level Mathematics. 7.4. Mathematical Vocations. 8. History and Philosophy of Mathematics. 8.1. History of Mathematics before the Scientific Revolution. 8.2. Mathematics and Science. 8.3. The Axiomatic Method. 8.4. History of Modern Mathematics. 8.5. Philosophical Issues in Mathematics. 9. Reading and Researching Mathematics. 9.1. Journals. 9.2. Original Research Articles. 9.3. Reading and Expositing Original Research Articles. 9.4. Researching Primary and Secondary Sources. 10. Writing and Presenting Mathematics. 10.1. Mathematical Writing. 10.2. Project Reports. 10.3. Mathematical Typesetting. 10.4. Advanced Typesetting. 10.5. Oral Presentations. Appendix A. Rubric for Assessing Proofs. A.1. Logic. A.2. Understanding / Terminology. A.3. Creativity. A.4. Communication. Appendix B. Index of Theorems and Definitions from Calculus and Linear Algebra. B.1. Calculus. B.2. Linear Algebra. Bibliography. Index.