Acutely aware of the need for rigor, the student is much better prepared to understand what constitutes a proper mathematical proof and how to write one.Fifteen years of classroom experience with the first edition of Understanding Analysis have solidified and refined the central narrative of the second edition.
The proof stage explores the unexpected collaborations between theater and mathematics since the early 20th century. As the 1800s closed, groundbreaking discoveries in alternate geometries and the concept of the infinite challenged the notion of immutable mathematical truth. Concurrently, experimental theater forms emerged, often influenced by these mathematical upheavals. Both fields share a quest for truth and a willingness to explore their limitations. Stephen Abbott offers a comprehensive examination of the interactions between mathematics and theater over the past 120 years, drawing from his extensive research and teaching experience. The book highlights how these disciplines illuminate each other, featuring playwrights like Alfred Jarry, Samuel Beckett, and Tom Stoppard, who engaged with mathematical ideas. Abbott intertwines this narrative with the evolution of mathematics, discussing developments in quantum mechanics, chaos theory, and alternative geometries that coincided with the creation of these plays. He argues that both domains resonate deeply, sharing concepts of uncertainty, self-reference, recursion, and orientation, demonstrating that theater has creatively engaged with mathematics for decades. Abbott presents a unique and human portrait of mathematics, revealing its unexpected connections to the theatrical world.