reading math - refresher course needed

Discussion in 'Math' started by kokkie_d, Nov 1, 2011.

1. kokkie_d Thread Starter Active Member

Jan 12, 2009
72
0
Hi,

Does anyone know about a good book (a dummies book for all I care) that can help with refreshing how to read maths (probably vague so I'll provide an example):

Consider the follwing ODE:
$\dot{x}=f(x)$, $x \in\Re^n$
Where:
$f:U \rightarrow \Re^n$ is $C^r$
First line would read as: the first derivative of x equals the output of the function f of x where x is an element of all real numbers something

The second line would then read as:
Where f something U then the real numbers something is part of a complex number set?.

As you might guess, my math "speak" is a bit rusty and I was wondering if people have some recommendations for books that handle with the "speak" problems?

Cheers,

That notation is standard and acknowledges that it's important when specifying a function to also specify the domain and range (also called the image) of that function. It also helps to look in the book for a glossary, index of symbols, notation page, etc. For example, the book's glossary explains what $C^r$ is.
In this case, the "translation" is that the function f maps (that's what the arrow means) the open set U which is a subset of $\Re^n$ into $\Re^n$ and that f is also a member of $C^r$.