MATH 80A What is Mathematics?

A broad overview of the subject, intended primarily for liberal arts students. What do mathematicians do, and why do they do it? Examines the art of proving theorems, from both the philosophical and aesthetic points of view, using examples such as non-Euclidean geometrics, prime numbers, abstract groups, and uncountable sets. Emphasis on appreciating the beauty and variety of mathematical ideas. Includes a survey of important results and unsolved problems which motivate mathematical research.