Ian Stewart explores the astonishing properties of numbers from 1 to10 to zero and infinity, including one figure that, if you wrote it out, would span the universe. He looks at every kind of number you can think of -- real, imaginary, rational, irrational, positive and negative -- along with several you might have thought you couldn't think of. He explains the insights of the ancient mathematicians, shows how numbers have evolved through the ages, and reveals the way numerical theory enables everyday life. Under Professor Stewart's guidance you will discover the mathematics of codes, Sudoku, Rubik's cube, music, primes and pi. You may be surprised to find you live in eleven-dimensional space, that of the twenty-three people on a football pitch two are more likely than not to share the same birthday, and that forty-two is a very interesting number. Professor Stewart's Incredible Numbers will delight everyone who loves numbers -- including those who currently think they don't.
There are some mathematical problems whose significance goes beyond ordinary - like Fermat's Last Theorem - they are enigmas which define mathematics. This book explains why these problems exist, why they matter, what drives mathematicians to incredible lengths to solve them and where they stand in context of mathematics and science as a whole.
Twenty quirky tales of mathematical exploration by one of the world's most popular writers on mathematics Fully illustrated with explanatory diagrams Each tale is told with engaging wit and will amuse everyone with an interest in puzzles and mathematics Will delight all who are familiar with Stewart's many other books, such as What Shape is a Snowflake? and Flatterland Stewart is a renowned expert who, as well as writing for a popular mathematics audience, has also published some 140 academic papers Welcome to Ian Stewart's strange and magical world of mathematics! In Math Hysteria, Professor Stewart presents us with a wealth of magical puzzles, each one spun around an amazing tale: Counting the Cattle of the Sun; The Great Drain Robbery; and Preposterous Piratical Predicaments; to name but a few. Along the way, we also meet many curious characters: in short, these stories are engaging, challenging, and lots of fun!
Readership: Anyone interested in mathematical problems: students, professionals, and the general reader.
Presents a mix of games, puzzles, paradoxes, brainteasers, and riddles. This book mingles these with forays into ancient and modern mathematical thought, mathematical jokes, and inquiries into the great mathematical challenges.
Presents a collection of games, puzzles, paradoxes, brainteasers, and riddles. This title helps you find out: how to organise chaos; how matter balances anti-matter; how to turn a sphere inside out (without creasing it); why you can't comb a hairy ball; and, how to calculate pi by observing the stars.
Offers new and sometimes startling perspectives on evolution and how patterns of inheritance and population work out over time-scales ranging from millions to hundreds of years - as well as what's going on to change us right now.
A collection of curiosities of maths. It features such topics as the keys to unlocking the mysteries of Fermat's last theorem, the Poincare Conjecture, chaos theory, and the P/NP problem.
A new partnership of biologists and mathematicians is picking apart the hidden complexity of animals and plants to throw fresh light on the behaviour of entire organisms, how they interact and how changes in biological diversity affect the planet's ecological balance. The author explores these and whole range of pertinent issues.
Examines seventeen groundbreaking equations that have altered the course of human history. This book explores how Pythagoras' Theorem led to GPS and SatNav; how logarithms are applied in architecture; why imaginary numbers were important in the development of the digital camera, and what is really going on with Schrodinger's cat.
Weaving together a "Discworld" novelette with scientific commentary on the evolution and development of the human mind, culture, language, art and science, this book presents an original view of the world we live in.
