An Excursion in Mathematics is widely regarded as a "gold standard" book for students preparing for high-level mathematical competitions like the IOQM, RMO, INMO, and other Mathematical Olympiads. Published by the Bhaskaracharya Pratishthana (Pune), it is authored by M.R. Modak, S.A. Katre, V.V. Acharya, and V.M. Sholapurkar. 📘 Book Overview
This book is not a traditional classroom textbook. Instead, it is a problem-driven guide designed to build non-routine problem-solving skills.
Primary Focus: Mathematical Olympiads (RMO, INMO, AMC 10/12).
Structure: The book is divided into four main pillars of competitive mathematics:
Number Theory: Divisibility, congruences, and prime numbers.
Algebra: Polynomials, inequalities, and functional equations.
Geometry: Euclidean geometry (plane and solid) and coordinate geometry. an excursion in mathematics pdf
Combinatorics: Counting techniques, bijections, and pigeonhole principle.
Pedagogy: It uses a "problems first" approach, where concepts are introduced through examples and theorems that readers are encouraged to prove themselves. ⭐ Full Review: Strengths & Weaknesses The Good
Concise yet Comprehensive: Despite being relatively slim, it covers almost the entire syllabus required for the regional-level olympiads in India.
Quality of Problems: Unlike school books with repetitive drills, every exercise in this book is unique and designed to challenge logical thinking.
Affordability: It is much more accessible and affordable compared to international publications like those by Springer or MAA.
Bridge to Advanced Math: It effectively bridges the gap between high school math and the rigorous proof-based math required for competitive exams. An Excursion in Mathematics is widely regarded as
Not for Beginners: The book assumes a solid foundation in basic high school math. It can be intimidating for those just starting their journey.
Lack of Solutions: A common complaint is that the book contains very few or no detailed solutions for its exercise problems, making it difficult for self-study without a mentor.
Formal Tone: The writing style is very formal and terse, which some students find dry compared to more modern "narrative" math books. 📂 Accessing the PDF
While physical copies are available through the Bhaskaracharya Pratishthana or Amazon, scanned versions often circulate online:
Scribd: Multiple versions including the 14th edition are hosted here.
DOKUMEN.PUB: Often hosts high-compression PDFs of older editions. Geometry and Topology : Exploring the properties of
💡 Note: Ensure you distinguish this book from the similarly titled An Excursion through Elementary Mathematics (Volumes I–III) by Antonio Caminha Muniz Neto, which is a much more extensive Springer series.
The Maharashtra State Bureau occasionally releases older titles as free PDFs on their official portal (cart.ebalbharati.in). As of 2025, An Excursion is not consistently listed, but it is worth periodically checking.
Geometry and Topology: Exploring the properties of shapes and spaces, from the familiar (like the geometry of polygons and polyhedra) to the exotic (such as fractals and non-Euclidean geometries).
Number Theory: A journey through the world of integers and primes, covering topics like prime number theory, Diophantine equations, and modular forms.
Mathematical Modeling: An excursion into how mathematics is used to model real-world phenomena, including population dynamics, financial markets, and climate models.
Computational Mathematics: Exploring the algorithms and computational techniques used to solve mathematical problems, including numerical analysis and computer algebra.
A physical excursion book might be out of print, locked in a university library, or heavy to carry. A PDF lives on your laptop, tablet, or phone. Whether you're on a train, a plane, or a park bench, your mathematical journey is one tap away.