Functions and Graphs

Gelfand Correspondence Program in Mathematics

by Israel M. Gelfand, E.G. Glagoleva, E.E. Shnol'

The second in a series of systematic studies by a celebrated mathematician I. M. Gelfand and colleagues, this volume presents students with a well-illustrated sequence of problems and exercises designed to illuminate the properties of functions and graphs. Since readers do not have the benefit of a blackboard on which a teacher constructs a graph, the authors abandoned the customary use of diagrams in which only the final form of the graph appears; instead, the book's margins feature step-by-step diagrams for the complete construction of each graph. The first part of the book employs simple functions to analyze the fundamental methods of constructing graphs. The second half deals with more complicated and refined questions concerning linear functions, quadratic trinomials, linear fractional functions, power functions, and rational functions.

Genres: Mathematics, Textbooks, Education, Science

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Israel Moiseevich Gelfand, also written Israïl Moyseyovich Gel'fand, or Izrail M. Gelfand (Yiddish: ישראל געלפֿאַנד‎, Russian: Израиль Моисеевич Гельфанд ; 2 September [O.S. 20 August] 1913 – 5 October 2009) was a prominent Soviet mathematician. He made significant contributions to many branches of mathematics, including group theory, representation theory and functional analysis. The recipient of many awards, including the Order of Lenin and the Wolf Prize, he was a Fellow of the Royal Society and professor at Moscow State University and, after immigrating to the United States shortly before his 76th birthday, at Rutgers University.

Reviews

[Maxim Perepelitsyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Probably it should not come as a surprise considering who the authors are.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite of Gelfand's four pre-calculus books. It required a very close reading, multiple close readings. He introduced a variety of concepts and all of them were accessible.

[Xinyu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for kids

[Eric Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little basic, but it was still a very good read when I was teaching myself math.