I’m trying to get back into games programming again, it’s been a while as it was only 2D when I was playing around with this stuff last. I’m a hobbyist and don’t have any formal Maths above basic trigonometry. I’m looking for some good books on Maths, one an Introduction to Trigonometry and then others leading on to more complex Maths. But I would prefer books that explain the theory behind the equations, as I want to understand it, as well a learn how to use it. Any suggestions would be great, as when I go into bookshops it hard to know what would be the right ones to buy, as they all seem to be very complex. Cheers!

Well what kind of complex maths are you interested in? Algebara? Differential equation or calculus?

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"Yeah, I would''ve killed you, but I''m glad I didn''t - the paperwork is a bitch"

A good textbook on Trigonometry is entitled just that, by Charles P McKeague. You can feel really good deals on the fourth edition from Amazon. It is used as a college textbook for Trig.

Here are some books I''ve found googling that look good... If anyone has read any of them I would love to know what you thought!

Fundamentals of Algebra & Trigonometry
ISBN: 0697053237

Beyond Numeracy: Ruminations of a Numbers Man
by John Allen Paulos
ISBN: 067973807X

Calculus Made Easy:
Being a Very-Simplest Introduction to Those Beautiful Methods of
Reckoning Which Are Generally Called by the Terrifying Names of the

Differential calc
ISBN: 0312185480

Forgotten Calculus
by Barbara Lee Bleau
ISBN: 0764119982

Forgotten Algebra: A Self-Teaching Refresher Course
by Barbara Lee Bleau
ISBN: 0812019423

Islands of Truth: A Mathematical Mystery Cruise
by Ivars Peterson

Mathematics for the Million/How to Master the Magic of Numbers
by Lancelot Hogben
ISBN: 039331071X

MEN OF MATHEMATICS (sounds good)
by E.T. Bell
ISBN: 0671628186

What Is Mathematics?: An Elementary Approach to Ideas and Methods
by Richard Courant, Herbert Robbins (Contributor), Ian Stewart
ISBN: 0195105192

Mathematical Sorcery: Revealing the Secrets of Numbers (sounds good)
by Calvin C. Clawson
ISBN: 073820496X


Alan Turing - On the Computable Numbers
G. H. Hardy - A Mathematician''s Apology
Denbow and Goedicke - Foudations of Mathematics

As for text books you might like to try:

Calculus and Analytic Geometry by Thomas & Finney

Calculus by Stewert

Linear Algebra for Calculus by Heuvers, et al (this is a companion to the above Calculus text)

Advanced Engineering Mathematics by Kreyszig (excellent resource/refernce book)

Partial Differential Equations: An Introduction by Strauss

These are all books I used during my undergraduate and postgraduate studies, or books I used as texts while lecturing at uni., so they come with my personal stamp of approval!

Cheers,

Timkin

quote:

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Original post by doc hex
MEN OF MATHEMATICS (sounds good)
by E.T. Bell
ISBN: 0671628186

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I have yet to read this book, but I came across the title when writing a paper about Everiste Galois. It was referenced by several sources, many citing how incorrect it is, but when I went to get it at the library it was listed as a fictional biography.

The book might be great, I have no idea, but I would question any facts you read in it.

A pretty good history of math book is the one by Boyer.

BTW, I second Calculus by Stewart.

Furthermore, I highly reccomend Concrete Mathematics by Grahm, Knuth, and Patashnik. Very very good book. (Same Knuth of The Art of Computer Programming fame).

Edit: Typo

[edited by - Aethon on August 4, 2003 12:37:07 AM]

Timkin definitely has the right books (especially the kreyszig and finney books, althougth they do way you down a bit ).

If it''s for game development you can''t go far wrong with Math for 3D Game Programming and Computer Graphics which is about 30 quid from amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1584500379/ref=sr_aps_books_1_1/202-0053714-9914225