Math Resources

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Contents

[edit] 1 About This Page

This guide was created to provide a starting point for researching topics related to mathematics. Some of the resources listed below are subscription databases as indicated by the icon Databasesmall.jpg and may only be accessed by current students, faculty, and staff of Bentley College. To see a full listing of library databases please visit the Bentley Library home page at http://library.bentley.edu.

[edit] 2 Finding Brief Explanations of Important Mathematical Terms & Concepts

All of the books Bookssmall.jpg listed in this section can be found in the library's reference stacks, located on the main floor of the building.

  • A Dictionary of Mathematics Books.gif (REFERENCE QA5 .G623 1984)
    Dictionary covers the basic concepts in mathematics as well as standard topics likely to appear in syllabi with many terms accompanied by diagrams and formulae.
  • Encyclopedic Dictionary of Mathematics Books.gif (REFERENCE QA5 .I8313 1987)
    Mathematical concepts, topics, and people are defined in technical detail with accompanying mathematical diagrams and formulae;
    entries include a list of references for those interested in further information.
  • CRC Standard Mathematical Tables and Formulae Books.gif (REFERENCE QA47 .M315 2003)
    Touted as the new and improved bible of mathematics, this reference is best used by those already familiar with a particular concept who are looking to locate tables, formulae, and equations.
  • Encyclopedia of Statistical Sciences Books.gif (REFERENCE QA276.14 .E5 2006)
    Entries ranging from one to several pages in length report on statistical subjects, methods, associations, journals, biographies, theories, and updated practices;
    many of the entries have accompanying bibliographies which list foundational books and articles for those interested in further study of the topic.
  • The Cambridge Dictionary of Statistics Books.gif (REFERENCE QA276.14 .E84 2002)
    In addition to providing short biographies of notable statisticians, this resource concisely defines terms in all areas of statistics, including medical, survey, theoretical, applied;
    an additional reference to a key book or article is provided following many of the entries and charts, graphs, diagrams, and other visuals accompany many of the definitions.

[edit] 3 Locating Books on Your Topic

[edit] 3.1 Searching the Catalog for Books

You can use the search box on the "Find Books/DVDs" tab from the library home page to find print, audio and electronic books as well as hard copy journals and videos on your topic. For example, below is a library catalog search for "game theory":

click here to see catalog search results for "game theory"
Cataloglibraryhome.jpg
click here to see catalog search results for "game theory"


[edit] 3.2 Locating Books in Other Libraries Using WorldCat

WorldCat.org Web.jpg (Type of Resource: Web Site) lets you search the collections of libraries in your community and thousands more around the world. Use WorldCat to look beyond Bentley Library's collections. Books and articles not available through Bentley Library can be obtained through Interlibrary Loan (ILL), a service free of charge to all current Bentley students, faculty, and staff. Use the online ILLiad system to place an ILL request.
Search Tips:

  • Remember that WorldCat is a catalog of thousands of libraries around the world. For best results, try using the Advanced Search screen to limit your results by date, language and/or format.
  • Find out what the libraries in your geographic area have by entering your zip code. If you would like to visit those libraries directly rather than submitting an ILL request, call the library first to make sure that 1.) the book is available and 2.) you are allowed to borrow books from that library.
  • When in doubt, contact the Bentley Library Reference Desk (Ask a Librarian) for assistance!

[edit] 3.3 Locating Books Online

Some books may be available to you online. Check the following resources for books on your topic:

  • American Mathematical Society (AMS) Full-Text Books Online Web.jpg Type of Resource: Web Site
    • organized by subject, this site provides full-text online access to a number of books in pdf format
    • topical material on Algebra and Algebraic Geometry, Analysis, Applications, Differential Equations, Geometry and Topology, Logic and Foundations, Mathematical Physics, Number Theory, Probability, and General Interest.
  • Books 24x7 CentralSearch.jpg Database.jpg Type of Resource: Library Database Books 24x7 Tutorial
    • this database provides full-text of books in business and information technology
    • relevant material on mathematical subjects related to business and information technology
    • can be cross-searched simultaneously with other databases using Central Search CentralSearch.jpg (read more about Central Search in Section 4.2)


[edit] 4 Searching for Articles on Your Topic

[edit] 4.1 Library Databases

The below resources are all library databases Databasesmall.jpg for which you will need to be a current Bentley student, faculty, or staff to access. Many of these resources can be simultaneously searched using Central Search CentralSearch.jpg; however, there are advantages to searching individual databases for articles related to your topic (read about it here). Click on the below links to search databases individually, or go to Section 4.2 for Central Search.

[edit] 4.2 Library Databases Using Central Search CentralSearch.jpg

The library's Central Search Databasesmall.jpg allows users to search multiple databases at once. Central Search works with many (not all) of the databases listed above and a special Central Search is available for searching these databases related to mathematics. Use Central Search Mathematics to look for articles on your topic. There are advantages and disadvantages to using Central Search in your research. Because of the nature of federated search engines like Central Search, some of the nuances of your search may be lost when using this tool and searching is really limited to the lowest common denominator. Individual databases often provide the ability to limit your search in many very helpful ways that are not available in Central Search. Don't use Central Search if you are looking to dig deep and find all possible articles on your topic. Central Search will retrieve a large volume of results, but this can be frustrating and overwhelming if you are just looking for a few relevant articles on your topic. Also keep in mind that Central Search will not allow you to limit your results to scholarly or peer-reviewed articles. However, Central Search can be a good resource for finding out which of the databases is the most relevant for your topic. You may use Central Search as a jumping off point to discover that articles on your topic can be found in databases you may not have thought to search. A Central Search Help Guide is available for general questions. Contact a reference librarian (Ask a Librarian) for more assistance in using Central Search or for search recommendations using our individual databases. Below is a screen shot from Central Search Mathematics using the example "game theory":

click here to access the Central Search Mathematics search page
Central_Search_Mathematics_search_page.jpg
click here to access the Central Search Mathematics search page


[edit] 4.3 Finding Articles Through Open Access Journals on the Web

  • ArXiv.org Math Web.jpg Type of Resource: Web Site
    • provides open access to over 400,000 e-prints in the sciences including mathematics and statistics, arXiv.org is a preprint archive for 1992 to present.
    • research papers by keyword, author, title, or browse by topic
    • topics (with detailed descriptions) include Algebraic Geometry; Algebraic Topology; Analysis of PDEs; Category Theory; Classical Analysis and ODEs; Combinatorics; Commutative Algebra; Complex Variables; Differential Geometry; Dynamical Systems; Functional Analysis; General Mathematics; General Topology; Geometric Topology; Group Theory; History and Overview; Information Theory; K-Theory and Homology; Logic; Mathematical Physics; Metric Geometry; Number Theory; Numerical Analysis; Operator Algebras; Optimization and Control; Probability; Quantum Algebra; Representation Theory; Rings and Algebras; Spectral Theory; Statistics; Symplectic Geometry
    • users may register to receive email notification of new papers on matching areas of interest.
  • EEVL Mathematics Web.jpg Type of Resource: Web Site
    • created and run by a team of information specialists from a number of universities and institutions in the UK, this site's mission is to provide access to quality networked engineering, mathematics and computing resources, and be the national focal point for online access to information in these subjects.
    • EEVL's core service is the Internet Resource Catalogue, a collection of over 10,000 descriptions and links to quality Internet web sites. Additionally, use EEVL's Ejournal Search Engine (EESE)to search the content of over 250 freely available full text ejournals in Engineering, Mathematics and Computing.
  • InfoMine Scholarly Internet Resource Collections for the Physical Sciences, Engineering, Computing & Math Web.jpg Type of Resource: Web Site
    • built by librarians at several major American universities, INFOMINE is a virtual library of Internet resources relevant to researchers at the university level, containing useful Internet resources such as databases, electronic journals, electronic books, bulletin boards, mailing lists, online library catalogs, articles, directories of researchers, and many other types of information.
    • search by keyword or browse by topic, author, type of resource.

--Page created and maintained by the library liaison for Mathematics, Colleen Mullally 07:31, 17 December 2007 (PST)

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