Mathematical Discovery on Understanding, Learning & Teaching Problem Solving Vol. I

by George Pólya

George Polya was a Hungarian mathematician. Born in Budapest on 13 December 1887, his original name was Pólya Györg. He wrote perhaps the most famous book of mathematics ever written, namely "How to Solve It".

However, "How to Solve It" is not strictly speaking a math book. It is a book about how to solve problems of any kind, of which math is just one type of problem. The same techniques could in principle be used to solve any problem one encounters in life (such as how to choose the best wife??).

Therefore, Polya wrote the current volume to explain how the techniques set forth in "How to Solve It" can be applied to specific areas such as geometry.

Genres: Mathematics

216 pages, Hardcover

First published June 19, 2009

Reviews

[Lucas :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a math student about to begin graduate school I enjoyed this book but also found it a little boring. The examples the author gives are nice to keep in your back pocket and his writing style is pleasant and just playful enough to show his personality. That said, I can't help but feel that much of his advice is needlessly repeated throughout each section, which can get a little tiresome. In his defence, the author preaches this teaching technique in the later chapters as a comparison to music and variation on a theme in an effort to find a space of appreciation in the students mind. While I can see this from a lecture perspective, it doesn't work in this book.

If you don't have time for the full book, I would say that volume II outweighs volume I from a teaching perspective. That said, volume I includes perspectives on problem solving and examples that are classics and serve as great material to give to your students. I was surprised to learn ways to describe methods of problem which I followed subconsciously that I was never aware of.

[Oky Oktavia · Rating 4 out of 5]

where the book? i want to read