Problem books are
textbooks, usually at advanced undergraduate or post-graduate level, in which the material is organized as a series of problems, each with a complete solution given. Problem books are distinct from
workbooks in that the problems are designed as a primary means of teaching, not merely for practice on material learned elsewhere. Problem books are found most often in the mathematical and physical sciences; they have a strong tradition within the Russian educational system.
[ Sidney B. Cahn and Boris E. Nadgorny (1994) ''A Guide to Physics Problems'', Plenum, vol. 2, p. vii (Preface).]
At some American universities, problem books are associated with departmental preliminary or candidacy examinations for the
Ph.D. degree. Such books may exemplify decades of actual examinations and, when published, are studied by graduate students at other institutions.
[ Other problem books are specific to graduate fields of study. While certain problem books are collected, written, or edited by worthy but little-known toilers, others are done by renowned scholars and researchers.
The casebook for law and other non-technical fields can provide a similar function.
]
Notable problem books in mathematics
* Paul Halmos
Paul Richard Halmos ( hu, Halmos Pál; March 3, 1916 – October 2, 2006) was a Hungarian-born American mathematician and statistician who made fundamental advances in the areas of mathematical logic, probability theory, statistics, operat ...
(1982) ''A Hilbert Space Problem Book'' ()
* Frederick Mosteller (1965,1987) ''Fifty Challenging Problems in Probability with Solutions'' ()
* Arthur Engel
Arthur is a common male given name of Brythonic origin. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. The etymology is disputed. It may derive from the Celtic ''Artos'' meaning “Bear”. Another theory, more wi ...
(1997) ''Problem-Solving Strategies'' ()
Notable problem books in physics
* V. V. Batygin and I. N. Toptygin (1964,1978) ''Problems in Electrodynamics'' (ASIN B003X6BPSE)
* Kyriakos Tamvakis (2005) ''Problems and Solutions in Quantum Mechanics'' ()
* A.P. Lightman, W.H. Press, R.H. Price, and S.A. Teukolsky (1979) ''Problem Book in Relativity and Gravitation'' ()
* W-H. Steeb (2006) ''Problems And Solutions in Quantum Computing And Quantum Information'' ()
Notable problem books in physics based on candidacy examinations
* J.A. Cronin, D.F. Greenberg, and V.L. Telegdi (1967,1979) ''University of Chicago Graduate Problems in Physics with Solutions'' ()
* Nathan Newbury, John Ruhl, Suzanne Staggs, Stephen Thorsett
Stephen Erik Thorsett (born December 3, 1964) is an American academic and astronomer serving as the president of Willamette University. His research interests include radio pulsars and gamma ray bursts. He is known for measurements of the masses o ...
, and Michael Newman. (1991) ''Princeton Problems in Physics with Solutions'' ()
References
{{reflist
External links
Problem Book in Relativity and Gravitation
(online)
Physics education
Mathematics education