A modest proposal
ned...@sbcglobal.net
reading through, studying, and understanding Stewart's "Calculus"
from cover-to-cover. I intend it to be a "mutual support group",
with members of the group freely sharing their questions, observations,
and (mis)understandings with each other via abundant e-mail messages.
It will be a leaderless group, but, to avoid a
"blind-leading-the-blind" syndrome, there will be appeals to experts
(such as the Math Forum and others) when necessary. There will, of
course, be no fee or other obligation when joining the group, and all
members will proceed at their own pace, determined solely by their
previous math exposure, their intellectual swiftness, and their desire
to rise to the challenge. There will be no medal for finishing first,
and prior math experience (or lack of it) should not deter a potential
member. I tentatively think a group of five or six members would be the
most productive and intimate. Should more than that number express an
interest, additional groups of five or six could be formed.
I have, in the past, placed this proposal before groups of math and
engineering students. But these folks have enough on their plate
already and were not able to commit themselves to a project of this
magnitude. It has recently occurred to me that perhaps the likeliest
source of potential members are individuals such as myself: retired but
not resigned to intellectual stagnation, who have the time and not the
obligations and responsibilities of an active professional life, and
who perhaps have had some exposure to calculus in the distant past. If
you think you might be interested in joining such a group as I propose
for your intellectual enrichment, would you please contact me at my
e-mail address (ned...@sbcglobal.net) so that I might acquaint you
with further details of the project and answer your inevitable
questions. Thank you.