<p>If you don't have any background in Real Analysis, I suggest you to read "Analysis I" written by Terence Tao. 
I was in a similar situation that you a year ago. I studied Economics at college but we never had to do rigorous proofs (as a matter of fact, I did not know what was a theorem, a mathematical proof, or mathematical logic until I read the book). We only learned some "rules" of derivation and integration, and to manipulate algebraic equations in order to get some important results in Economics. However, a professor suggested me to apply to a PhD program and to take a real analysis course. It was really hard because I had never seen something like that. The books recommended by the analysis professor were the common books you will be recommended here: Baby Rudin, Kolmogorov and Fomin, Ok, Abbot, Apostol, etc. I read some of them (specially Baby Rudin) and I found them too difficult. </p>

<p>The problem was that I found difficult "thinking as a mathematician". Therefore, I started to search for the "best book" in real analysis, and I found this one written by Terence Tao. It was amazing, not only because the deep understanding and the outstanding expository skills of the author, but because he started from the very beginning: he answers some important questions (what is analysis and why to do it?) and starts explaining what are the natural, integer, rational, and real numbers (and also the Peano axioms, and some operations). He also starts explaining what sets are. 
Then, he develops the most important concepts of analysis: sequences, limits, convergence, series, etc. </p>

<p>I think the most important feature of the book is that it is completely focused on building mathematical skills: how to prove a proposition, different ways to do it, how to use your intuition to develop a proof, etc. And also, it gives you a complete understanding of the topic. This makes it starkly different from other books such as Baby Rudin (which assumes that you know lots of results that, in fact, you don't), which is useful as a reference book and also when you have some well understanding of the topic (I moved easily from Tao to Rudin when the analysis course I took required me to do so). Another important characteristic of  the book is its appendix: it gently introduces you to the basics of mathematical logic: what mathematical statements are, the structure of proofs, (nested) quantifiers, etc; and gives several examples of proofs.  </p>

<p>I often see questions like this and I have always found puzzling why no one recommends this book. It is maybe the best mathematics book I have ever read (as it may seem obvious, I love that book I have fond memories of me learning how to make proofs and what real numbers and analysis really are). Also, it is strange because Terence Tao is unarguably the most important mathematician alive and a very kind person. You can see his blog and the books he has published in the following link: <a href="https://terrytao.wordpress.com/books/" rel="nofollow">https://terrytao.wordpress.com/books/</a>. I hope this recommendation would be useful.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-11T19:25:35.457Z
2016-07-11T19:25:35.457Z
Belisario
<p>It's hard to make a best advisement given that we don't know your background. One can struggle with proofs for a few reasons: terseness of the presentation, a weak background in the prerequisite material, or a weak background in proof-writing in general. (1) and (3) are generally associated with mathematical maturity.</p>

<p>I advise folks interested in economics to pursue an undergraduate degree in mathematics. If that is not feasible or realistic, then I suggest at a minimum some proofs-based work in linear algebra and real analysis. Friedberg's Linear Algebra text is a good exposition and will help you build up some maturity. It's a solid prerequisite for analysis. Once you start talking about the derivative as a linear operator, linear algebra is a must-have. However, linear algebra doesn't otherwise appear in real analysis before that. </p>

<p>For analysis, Abbott is friendlier than Rudin, and will likely provide you with sufficient background to move forward. Abbott is geared towards juniors in an undergraduate curriculum, while Rudin is the hard-core senior level text. If you don't have mathematical maturity, Rudin will force you to struggle. Once you have mathematical maturity, the conciseness his writing is quite nice. </p>

<p>Fudenberg and Tirole is a very technical, terse book. It is a good reference, but not my favorite exposition into game theory. I might be inclined to look through Maschler, Solan, and Zamir instead. It's gotten good reviews, though I haven't had a chance to look through it myself.So take this with a grain of salt. It is definitely more comprehensive than Fudenberg and Tirole, though.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-10T23:21:10.643Z
2016-07-10T23:21:10.643Z
ml0105
<p>I think good preparation could be to watch some analysis video lectures. Examples this I think are quite good include</p>

<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqEyWLGvvdw&amp;list=PL0E754696F72137EC" rel="nofollow">Su's lectures</a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL58984C080F2B0575" rel="nofollow">Feinstein's lectures</a></p>

<p>These lectures have the advantage that you get to (repeatedly) watch someone doing proofs and therefore learn about the kind of axiomatic reasoning that goes into putting together the kind of results you see in your graduate econ books.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-12T12:49:07.693Z
2016-07-12T12:49:07.693Z
Ubiquitous
<p>I suppose I will suggest starting with Theory of Games and Economic Behavior by Neumman. </p>

<p>If I recall it, believe it or not, assumes very little mathematical background from the reader. Maybe you should check it out and see if reading it increases your proficiency with other works.</p>

<p>The reason that I think it will is that I'm not sure if the problem you're having is one of mathematics competency or one of comprehension. If it is the latter then you should know that authors tend to skip multiple steps in problem solving because they assume that you can figure things out on your own.</p>

<p>If this is where you're struggling, then the seminal book I mentioned is a good choice; because the authors are more forgiving and offer many examples. Looking back on it it has a whole section dedicated to a review of very basic set theory.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-11T19:21:39.587Z
2016-07-11T19:21:39.587Z
Antecedent
<p>For last couple of weeks I am trying to read "Game Theory" from <em>Fudenberg and Tirole</em> and "Microeconomics" from <em>Jehle and Reny</em>. But the kind of maths they use for their theorem-proof-theorem analysis, is just not getting into my head. What book can I use to easily master such kind of Real Analysis that can help me to understand these books?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-19T16:14:20.130Z
Rudin's book on Real Analysis is often suggested. Kolmogorov and Fomin is a reference I use now, but is a bit steep (including for me). For more basic techniques, you can try Simon and Blume's "Mathematics for Economists", which may be more topical and direct.
Kitsune Cavalry
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-19T23:50:11.513Z
I second the Dover book Introduction to Real Analysis by Kolmogorov and Fomin (and Silverman). I found that book very useful when working with both Jehle and Reny, and Mas-Colell. Generally speaking, the Dover collection are very good go-to math books.
Graeme Walsh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-11T17:51:27.030Z
The advice you get will differe depending on your background, so it would be useful if you could post some info. For example, are you an econ PhD student, an interested layman, etc? What kind of mathematics background do you have? Are Mas-Collel / Fudenberg & Tirole prescribed course texts, or would you also entertain suggestions of (potentially more appropriate) alternatives?
Ubiquitous
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-12T04:01:50.860Z
I want to pursue PhD and only mathematics background that I have is of calculus, linear algebra and other concepts taught in engineering.
Dhruv Goel
<microeconomics><mathematical-economics>
How to get hang of mathematical language that is so extensively used in economics?
Dhruv Goel
# How to get hang of mathematical language that is so extensively used in economics?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-06-19)

For last couple of weeks I am trying to read "Game Theory" from *Fudenberg and Tirole* and "Microeconomics" from *Jehle and Reny*. But the kind of maths they use for their theorem-proof-theorem analysis, is just not getting into my head. What book can I use to easily master such kind of Real Analysis that can help me to understand these books?

**Tags:** microeconomics, mathematical-economics

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Rudin's book on Real Analysis is often suggested. Kolmogorov and Fomin is a reference I use now, but is a bit steep (including for me). For more basic techniques, you can try Simon and Blume's "Mathematics for Economists", which may be more topical and direct.  
> **username_2**: I second the Dover book Introduction to Real Analysis by Kolmogorov and Fomin (and Silverman). I found that book very useful when working with both Jehle and Reny, and Mas-Colell. Generally speaking, the Dover collection are very good go-to math books.  
> **username_3**: The advice you get will differe depending on your background, so it would be useful if you could post some info. For example, are you an econ PhD student, an interested layman, etc? What kind of mathematics background do you have? Are Mas-Collel / Fudenberg & Tirole prescribed course texts, or would you also entertain suggestions of (potentially more appropriate) alternatives?  
> **username_0**: I want to pursue PhD and only mathematics background that I have is of calculus, linear algebra and other concepts taught in engineering.  

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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-07-11. Score: 2

If you don't have any background in Real Analysis, I suggest you to read "Analysis I" written by Terence Tao.
I was in a similar situation that you a year ago. I studied Economics at college but we never had to do rigorous proofs (as a matter of fact, I did not know what was a theorem, a mathematical proof, or mathematical logic until I read the book). We only learned some "rules" of derivation and integration, and to manipulate algebraic equations in order to get some important results in Economics. However, a professor suggested me to apply to a PhD program and to take a real analysis course. It was really hard because I had never seen something like that. The books recommended by the analysis professor were the common books you will be recommended here: Baby Rudin, Kolmogorov and Fomin, Ok, Abbot, Apostol, etc. I read some of them (specially Baby Rudin) and I found them too difficult.

The problem was that I found difficult "thinking as a mathematician". Therefore, I started to search for the "best book" in real analysis, and I found this one written by Terence Tao. It was amazing, not only because the deep understanding and the outstanding expository skills of the author, but because he started from the very beginning: he answers some important questions (what is analysis and why to do it?) and starts explaining what are the natural, integer, rational, and real numbers (and also the Peano axioms, and some operations). He also starts explaining what sets are.
Then, he develops the most important concepts of analysis: sequences, limits, convergence, series, etc.

I think the most important feature of the book is that it is completely focused on building mathematical skills: how to prove a proposition, different ways to do it, how to use your intuition to develop a proof, etc. And also, it gives you a complete understanding of the topic. This makes it starkly different from other books such as Baby Rudin (which assumes that you know lots of results that, in fact, you don't), which is useful as a reference book and also when you have some well understanding of the topic (I moved easily from Tao to Rudin when the analysis course I took required me to do so). Another important characteristic of the book is its appendix: it gently introduces you to the basics of mathematical logic: what mathematical statements are, the structure of proofs, (nested) quantifiers, etc; and gives several examples of proofs.

I often see questions like this and I have always found puzzling why no one recommends this book. It is maybe the best mathematics book I have ever read (as it may seem obvious, I love that book I have fond memories of me learning how to make proofs and what real numbers and analysis really are). Also, it is strange because Terence Tao is unarguably the most important mathematician alive and a very kind person. You can see his blog and the books he has published in the following link: <https://terrytao.wordpress.com/books/>. I hope this recommendation would be useful.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2016-07-10. Score: 0

It's hard to make a best advisement given that we don't know your background. One can struggle with proofs for a few reasons: terseness of the presentation, a weak background in the prerequisite material, or a weak background in proof-writing in general. (1) and (3) are generally associated with mathematical maturity.

I advise folks interested in economics to pursue an undergraduate degree in mathematics. If that is not feasible or realistic, then I suggest at a minimum some proofs-based work in linear algebra and real analysis. Friedberg's Linear Algebra text is a good exposition and will help you build up some maturity. It's a solid prerequisite for analysis. Once you start talking about the derivative as a linear operator, linear algebra is a must-have. However, linear algebra doesn't otherwise appear in real analysis before that.

For analysis, Abbott is friendlier than Rudin, and will likely provide you with sufficient background to move forward. Abbott is geared towards juniors in an undergraduate curriculum, while Rudin is the hard-core senior level text. If you don't have mathematical maturity, Rudin will force you to struggle. Once you have mathematical maturity, the conciseness his writing is quite nice.

Fudenberg and Tirole is a very technical, terse book. It is a good reference, but not my favorite exposition into game theory. I might be inclined to look through Maschler, Solan, and Zamir instead. It's gotten good reviews, though I haven't had a chance to look through it myself.So take this with a grain of salt. It is definitely more comprehensive than Fudenberg and Tirole, though.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2016-07-12. Score: 0

I think good preparation could be to watch some analysis video lectures. Examples this I think are quite good include

[Su's lectures](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqEyWLGvvdw&list=PL0E754696F72137EC)

[Feinstein's lectures](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL58984C080F2B0575)

These lectures have the advantage that you get to (repeatedly) watch someone doing proofs and therefore learn about the kind of axiomatic reasoning that goes into putting together the kind of results you see in your graduate econ books.


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### Answer by username_6 on 2016-07-11. Score: 0

I suppose I will suggest starting with Theory of Games and Economic Behavior by Neumman.

If I recall it, believe it or not, assumes very little mathematical background from the reader. Maybe you should check it out and see if reading it increases your proficiency with other works.

The reason that I think it will is that I'm not sure if the problem you're having is one of mathematics competency or one of comprehension. If it is the latter then you should know that authors tend to skip multiple steps in problem solving because they assume that you can figure things out on your own.

If this is where you're struggling, then the seminal book I mentioned is a good choice; because the authors are more forgiving and offer many examples. Looking back on it it has a whole section dedicated to a review of very basic set theory.


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