Distilling Ideas: An Introduction to Mathematical Thinking

Designed for undergraduate students and lecturers, this text guides its users to develop the skills, attitudes, and habits of mind of a mathematician. It presents a carefully designed sequence of exercises and theorems so that its readers will be directed to discover mathematical ideas, strategies of proof, and strategies of thinking. Through the exploration of interesting mathematical content including graphs, groups, and calculus, this book helps to foster habits of inquiry. This book can be used by instructors as a text for an inquiry-based introduction to proof course, or as an independent study guide for mathematics students. The three core mathematical topics are presented separately, and each helps students develop theorem-proving skills and strategies of thinking whilst also providing an organised set of challenges that lead students to understand the process of mathematical creativity and development.