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Mathematical Treasure: Hobson's Theory of Functions

Author(s): 
Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University)

Ernest W. Hobson (1856-1933) was an English mathematician noted for his work in analysis. He spent his career teaching at Cambridge University. In 1907 he published The Theory of Functions of a Real Variable and the Theory of Fourier's Series. The images below are from the second edition of the work, which appeared in two volumes in 1921 and 1926.

Title page of Theory of Functions of a Real Variable by Ernest Hobson from 1921

The author’s comments in his prefaces to the two editions reflect on developments then taking place in the field of analysis.

Preface to second edition of Theory of Functions of a Real Variable by Ernest Hobson from 1921

First page of the preface to the first edition of Theory of Functions of a Real Variable by Ernest Hobson from 1921

Second page of the preface to the first edition of Theory of Functions of a Real Variable by Ernest Hobson from 1921

Third page of the preface to the first edition of Theory of Functions of a Real Variable by Ernest Hobson from 1921

Fourth page of the preface to the first edition of Theory of Functions of a Real Variable by Ernest Hobson from 1921

Below is a discussion of irrational numbers from the first chapter:

Discussion of irrational numbers on page 19 of Theory of Functions of a Real Variable by Ernest Hobson from 1921

Discussion of irrational numbers on page 20 of Theory of Functions of a Real Variable by Ernest Hobson from 1921

The images above were obtained through the courtesy of the University of California Libraries. The book may be viewed in its entirety in the Internet Archive.

Index to Mathematical Treasures

Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University), "Mathematical Treasure: Hobson's Theory of Functions," Convergence (February 2018)