# Problem book

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**Problem books** are [textbooks](/source/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](/source/Workbook) 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.[1]

At some American universities, problem books are associated with departmental preliminary or candidacy examinations for the [Ph.D. degree](/source/Doctor_of_philosophy). Such books may exemplify decades of actual examinations and, when published, are studied by graduate students at other institutions.[1] 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](/source/Casebook) for law and other non-technical fields can provide a similar function.

## Notable problem books in mathematics

- [George Pólya](/source/George_P%C3%B3lya) and [Gábor Szegő](/source/G%C3%A1bor_Szeg%C5%91) (1925) *[Problems and Theorems in Analysis](/source/Problems_and_Theorems_in_Analysis)* (German: *Aufgaben und Lehrsätze aus der Analysis*)

- [Paul Halmos](/source/Paul_Halmos) (1982) *A Hilbert Space Problem Book* ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0387906850](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0387906850))

- [Frederick Mosteller](/source/Frederick_Mosteller) (1965,1987) *Fifty Challenging Problems in Probability with Solutions* ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0486653556](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0486653556))

- [Arthur Engel](/source/Arthur_Engel_(mathematician)) (1997) *Problem-Solving Strategies* ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0387982199](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0387982199))[2]

## Notable problem books in physics

- V. V. Batygin and I. N. Toptygin (1964,1978) *Problems in Electrodynamics* (ASIN B003X6BPSE)

- [I. E. Irodov](/source/Igor_Irodov) (1981) *[Problems in General Physics](/source/Problems_in_General_Physics)* ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [5-03-000800-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/5-03-000800-4))

- Kyriakos Tamvakis (2005) *Problems and Solutions in Quantum Mechanics* ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0521600576](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0521600576))

- [A.P. Lightman](/source/Alan_Lightman), [W.H. Press](/source/William_H._Press), [R.H. Price](/source/Richard_H._Price), and [S.A. Teukolsky](/source/Saul_Teukolsky) (1979) *Problem Book in Relativity and Gravitation* ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0691081625](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0691081625))

- W-H. Steeb (2006) *Problems And Solutions in Quantum Computing And Quantum Information* ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-9812567406](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9812567406))

## Notable problem books in physics based on candidacy examinations

- [J.A. Cronin](/source/James_Cronin), D.F. Greenberg, and [V.L. Telegdi](/source/Valentine_Telegdi) (1967,1979) *University of Chicago Graduate Problems in Physics with Solutions* ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0226121093](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0226121093))

- Nathan Newbury, [John Ruhl](/source/John_Ruhl_(physicist)), Suzanne Staggs, [Stephen Thorsett](/source/Stephen_Thorsett), and Michael Newman. (1991) *Princeton Problems in Physics with Solutions* ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0691024493](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0691024493))

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-cahn_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-cahn_1-1) Sidney B. Cahn and Boris E. Nadgorny (1994) *A Guide to Physics Problems*, Plenum, vol. 2, p. vii (Preface).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Illustrated solutions to select problems from "Problem-Solving Strategies""](https://science-is-amazing.blogspot.com/).

## External links

- [Problem Book in Relativity and Gravitation](http://apps.nrbook.com/relativity/index.html) (online)

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