The first edition of this book, published in German, came into being as the result of lectures which the authors held over a period of several years since 1953 at the Universities of Helsinki and Zurich. The Introduction, which follows, provides information on what moti vated our presentation of an absolute, coordinate- and dimension-free infinitesimal calculus. Little previous knowledge is presumed of the reader. It can be recom mended to students familiar with the usual structure, based on co ordinates, of the elements of analytic geometry, differential and integral calculus and of the theory of differential equations. We are indebted to H. Keller, T. Klemola, T. Nieminen, Ph. Tondeur and K. 1. Virtanen, who read our presentation in our first manuscript, for important critical remarks. The present new English edition deviates at several points from the first edition (d. Introduction). Professor I. S. Louhivaara has from the beginning to the end taken part in the production of the new edition and has advanced our work by suggestions on both content and form. For his important support we wish to express our hearty thanks. We are indebted also to W. Greub and to H. Haahti for various valuable remarks. Our manuscript for this new edition has been translated into English by Doctor P. Emig. We express to him our gratitude for his careful interest and skillful attention during this work."

The first edition of this book, published in German, came into being as the result of lectures which the authors held over a period of several years since 1953 at the Universities of Helsinki and Zurich. The Introduction, which follows, provides information on what moti vated our presentation of an absolute, coordinate- and dimension-free infinitesimal calculus. Little previous knowledge is presumed of the reader. It can be recom mended to students familiar with the usual structure, based on co ordinates, of the elements of analytic geometry, differential and integral calculus and of the theory of differential equations. We are indebted to H. Keller, T. Klemola, T. Nieminen, Ph. Tondeur and K. 1. Virtanen, who read our presentation in our first manuscript, for important critical remarks. The present new English edition deviates at several points from the first edition (d. Introduction). Professor I. S. Louhivaara has from the beginning to the end taken part in the production of the new edition and has advanced our work by suggestions on both content and form. For his important support we wish to express our hearty thanks. We are indebted also to W. Greub and to H. Haahti for various valuable remarks. Our manuscript for this new edition has been translated into English by Doctor P. Emig. We express to him our gratitude for his careful interest and skillful attention during this work."

Das vorliegende Werk ist als Ergebnis von Vorlesungen entstanden, welche die Verfasser seit 1953 im Laufe von mehreren Jahren an den Universitaten Helsinki und Zurich gehalten haben. Die nachfolgende Einleitung gibt uber die Tendenzen Aufschluss, die fur unsere Darstellung der Grundlagen einer absoluten, koordinaten- und dimensionsfreien Infinitesimalrechnung massgebend gewesen sind. Die Lekture setzt an Vorkenntnissen nur wenig voraus; sie kann jedem Studierenden emp fohlen werden, der mit dem ublichen, auf die Benutzung von Koordi naten fussenden Aufbau der Elemente der analytischen Geometrie, der Differential- und Integralrechnung und der Theorie der Differential gleichungen vertraut ist. Unsere Arbeit ist durch die Hilfe wesentlich erleichtert worden, die uns von mehreren Seiten zuteil geworden ist. Herr Ilppo Simo Louhi vaara hat von Anfang bis zu Ende an der Herstellung dieses Werkes mit unermudlichem Interesse und minutioeser Sorgfalt teilgenommen und durch zahlreiche sachliche und formelle Bemerkungen und Vor schlage unsere Arbeit wesentlich gefoerdert. Fur seine wertvolle, auf opfernde Unterstutzung sprechen wir hier unseren herzlichen Dank aus. Den Herren H. Keller, T. Klemola, T. Nieminen, Ph. Tondeur und K. 1. Virtanen, die unsere Darstellung im Manuskript gelesen haben, verdanken wir verschiedene wichtige kritische Bemerkungen. Unser Dank gilt auch Herrn Professor Dr. F. K. Schmidt fur die Aufnahme dieses Werkes in die Reihe der Grundlehren der mathema tischen Wissenschaften, und dem Springer-Verlag, der unseren Wunschen mit freundlicher Bereitwilligkeit entgegengekommen ist.