Question

I'm looking for resources discussing mathematical notation, the theory, the philosophy, the distinct advantages of various notations. Stuff about notation for computer algebra systems is interesting too.

Anyone have resources they recommend?

I've already read Whitehead's An Introduction to Mathematics.

Answer 1

MR1163629 (93f:05001) Knuth, Donald E. Two notes on notation. Amer. Math. Monthly 99 (1992), no. 5, 403–422.

Two notational schemas, with all their advantages, disadvantages and even pitfalls, are discussed. The first goes back to K. E. Iverson and creates a kind of characteristic function by enclosing a (mathematical) statement within square brackets. The resulting term returns 1 if the statement is true and 0 otherwise. Example:[$n$ is prime]. This is useful, among other things, for manipulating sums. The other is a notation for Stirling numbers of both kinds using square brackets and braces, respectively. With it, many formulae become more perspicuous and the two types of combinatorial numbers receive a unified treatment. The author exhibits many historical relationships and points to the effects the choice of a specific notation may have. $$ $$ Reviewed by W. Dörfler

Answer 2

I think you might like the book "Concrete Mathematics" by Donald Knuth.