Christopher Hammond, professor of mathematics at Connecticut College has diverse research interests ranging from real analysis to mathematical writing. Much of Professor Hammond’s research belongs to an area of analysis known as function-theoretic operator theory. While pure mathematics occupies a great deal of Professor Hammond’s attention, he also maintains an active interest in the liberal arts, particularly in topics relating to literature and religion. He enjoys finding connections between mathematics and the arts.
In 2022, Professor Hammond wrote The Art of Analysis, an open textbook designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of real analysis. The textbook offers a fresh approach to teaching this subject, with a special focus on bridging the gap between computational and proof-based mathematics. He emphasizes the transition from understanding basic calculus concepts, such as continuity and derivatives, to mastering the art of constructing rigorous mathematical proofs.
The Art of Analysis covers a wide array of topics, including sequences, continuity, differentiability, and integration. One of the key innovations of the text is its treatment of integrability. Most introductory analysis courses focus initially on the Riemann integral, with other definitions discussed later (if at all). The paradigm being proposed is that the Riemann integral and the “generalized Riemann integral” should be considered simultaneously, not separately – in the same manner as uniform continuity and continuity. This pedagogical shift smooths the learning curve for students and allows for a more cohesive exploration of topics such as uniform continuity and differentiability. The textbook also includes historical notes and a variety of exercises to engage students actively with the material.
As part of the growing open educational resources (OER) movement, The Art of Analysis is a PDF available for free through Connecticut College’s institutional repository, Digital Commons. The textbook is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, allowing users to download, share, and use the material freely, provided it is not for commercial use and that proper attribution is given.By making The Art of Analysis available to everyone, Professor Hammond contributes to reducing the financial burden on students while providing access to high-quality educational materials. This free access helps ensure that a wider audience can benefit from learning about real analysis without the cost barriers of traditional textbooks.