FreeMathTexts.org
For people who want to learn or teach mathematics on the basis of reason …
Reasonable Texts
—Other than being "based on facts", can you tell me in 12 words or less what Reasonable Texts are?
Not quite but how about:
Reasonable Texts are part of complete "bundles" for courses in which a significant number of students can be realistically expected to learn some real mathematics.
—You don't say! How about telling me a bit more?
A Reasonable Text is:
(Pick your choice)
- A text that appeals to the reader's reason rather than to
her/his ability to memorize stuff that makes no sense to them.
- A chance for adults to learn some mathematics … the way mathematicians do.
- A text, with a story-line, written to be read
… and reread.
- A presentation in which pedantic attention is paid to the linguistic difficulties encountered in learning mathematics.
- A political act to "enable people to get on better terms with reason—to learn to live with the truth." [Colin McGinn]
- An anti "Show and Tell, Drill and Kill" manifesto.
- Written and programmed in LaTeX, with lots of vector graphics done in Intaglio but also editable in SVG.
- A standalone version of a part of From Arithmetic to Differential Calculus. (In Preparation.)
- An instance of a model-theoretic approach to mathematical exposition.
- A treatment that, while not rigorous in the usual mathematical sense, sins only by venial omission.
- A work in progress by a mathematician who, almost fifty years ago, decided he wanted to reconcile "just plain folks" with mathematics.
—No less, eh? Could you be a bit more precise?
How about checking out Chapter Thirteen?
—All textbooks authors claim theirs is unique. How are these "reasonable texts" really different?
See by yourself. You can download Reasonable Basic Algebra. or Reasonable Algebraic Functions or any individual chapter(s) thereof.
—Even if I did like the stuff, surely you wouldn't expect me to write all the "ancillary" stuff I would need to teach it?
Reasonable Texts come as ready-to-use "bundles" that, in addition to the Text, include many, easy to use ancillaries.
—OK, I will bite: Why "Reasonable"?
The Oxford American Dictionaries gives the following which says it all:
-------------------- Dictionary--------------------
Rea•son•a•ble. |ˈrēz(ə)nəbəl|
adjective
1 (of a person) having sound judgement; fair and sensible : no reasonable person could have objected.
- based on good sense : it seems a reasonable enough request | the guilt of a person on trial must be proved beyond reasonable doubt.
- archaic (of a person or animal) able to think, understand, or form judgements by a logical process : man is by nature reasonable.
2 as much as is appropriate or fair; moderate : a police officer may use reasonable force to gain entry.
- fairly good; average : the carpet is in reasonable condition.
- (of a price or product) not too expensive : a restaurant serving excellent food at reasonable prices | they are lovely shoes and very reasonable.
DERIVATIVES
rea-son-a-ble-ness noun
ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French raisonable, suggested by Latin rationabilis ‘rational’, from ratio (see REASON ).
-------------------- Thesaurus --------------------
reasonable
adjective
1 a reasonable man | a reasonable explanation
SENSIBLE, rational, logical, fair, fair-minded, just, equitable;
intelligent, wise, levelheaded, practical, realistic; sound, reasoned,
well-reasoned, valid, commonsensical; tenable, plausible, credible,
believable.
2 you must take all reasonable precautions WITHIN REASON, practicable, sensible; appropriate, suitable.
3 cars in reasonable condition FAIRLY GOOD, acceptable, satisfactory, average, adequate, fair, all right, tolerable, passable; informal OK.
4 reasonable prices INEXPENSIVE, moderate, low, cheap, budget, bargain, downmarket; competitive.