An antidote to mathematical rigor mortis, teaching how to guess answers without needing a proof or an exact calculation. In problem solving, as in street fighting, rules are for fools: do whatever works—don't just stand there! Yet we often fear an unjustified leap even though it may land us on a correct result. Traditional mathematics teaching is largely about solving exactly stated problems exactly, yet life often hands us partly defined problems needing only moderately accurate solutions. This engaging book is an antidote to the rigor mortis brought on by too much mathematical rigor, teaching us how to guess answers without needing a proof or an exact calculation. In Street-Fighting Mathematics, Sanjoy Mahajan builds, sharpens, and demonstrates tools for educated guessing and down-and-dirty, opportunistic problem solving across diverse fields of knowledge—from mathematics to management. Mahajan describes six tools: dimensional analysis, easy cases, lumping, picture proofs, successive approximation, and reasoning by analogy. Illustrating each tool with numerous examples, he carefully separates the tool—the general principle—from the particular application so that the reader can most easily grasp the tool itself to use on problems of particular interest. Street-Fighting Mathematics grew out of a short course taught by the author at MIT for students ranging from first-year undergraduates to graduate students ready for careers in physics, mathematics, management, electrical engineering, computer science, and biology. They benefited from an approach that avoided rigor and taught them how to use mathematics to solve real problems. Street-Fighting Mathematics will appear in print and online under a Creative Commons Noncommercial Share Alike license.
The Fifth Edition fully integrates the text with MasteringChemistry to provide an interactive and engaging experience.
NOTE: This edition features the same content as the traditional text in a convenient, three-hole-punched, loose-leaf version.
The text also fosters development of problem-solving skills while helping students visualize and understand concepts through figures, sample problems, and concept maps.
Study Guide for General, Organic and Biological Chemistry: Structures of Life
New problem-solving tools in this edition, including Try it First and Connect, urge readers to think critically about problem-solving while learning best practices. Personalize learning with Mastering Chemistry.
Modified Masteringchemistry with Pearson Etext -- Standalone Access Card -- For General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry: Structures of Life
Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, Books a la Carte Plus MasteringChemistry with EText -- Access Card...
Masteringchemistry With Pearson Etext Standalone Access Card for Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry
General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry: Structures of Life, Pearson Etext
0321832922 / 9780321832924 General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry: Structures of Life, MasteringChemistry with Pearson eText -- Valuepack Access Card and Study Guide for General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry: Structures of Life, ...