Introduction to Functional Programming (Repost)

This is an introductory textbook on programming in general and functional programming in particular. No knowledge of computers or experience in writing programs is assumed. The book is therefore suitable for teaching a course in programming to first-year undergraduates, but it can also be used as an introduction to functional programming for students who are already experienced programmers. In order to get the most out of the book, the student should know some mathematics, or at least possess a general appreciation of the principles of mathematical reasoning. Our primary aim in writing this book is to convey a view of programming as a mathematical activity, and mathematical reasoning lies at the heart of our subject. Functional programming involves notation and concepts of a kind which should be familiar to anyone with a little mathematical experience. For example, any student who has used the basic trigonometric functions to formulate problems in geometry, and has applied simple trigonometric laws and identities to derive solutions to these problems, will soon appreciate that a similar activity is being suggested for computational problems and their solution by functional programs. It follows that the kind of mathematical understanding required is not very complicated or specialised, just the general ability to follow manipulations of formulae through applying algebraic laws, and the appreciation of why such manipulations can be useful in the task of solving practical problems.