The Magic Numbers of Dr. Matrix

The Magic Numbers of Dr. Matrix
Author: Martin Gardner
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
Total Pages: 326
Release: 2020-10-06
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 147046361X

Martin Gardner's Mathematical Games columns in Scientific American inspired and entertained several generations of mathematicians and scientists. Gardner in his crystal-clear prose illuminated corners of mathematics, especially recreational mathematics, that most people had no idea existed. His playful spirit and inquisitive nature invite the reader into an exploration of beautiful mathematical ideas along with him. These columns were both a revelation and a gift when he wrote them; no one--before Gardner--had written about mathematics like this. They continue to be a marvel. This volume is a collection of Irving Joshua Matrix columns published in the magazine from 1960-1980. There were several collections of Dr. Matrix, the first in 1967; they were revised as Gardner reconnected with the good doctor over the years. This is the 1985 Prometheus Books edition and contains all the Dr. Matrix columns from the magazine.

The Life-Changing Magic of Numbers

The Life-Changing Magic of Numbers
Author: Bobby Seagull
Publisher: Random House
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2018-10-25
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0753552825

If you found maths lessons at school irrelevant and boring, that’s because you didn’t have a teacher like Bobby Seagull. ***As seen on Monkman & Seagull's Genius Guide to Britain*** Long before his rise to cult fandom on University Challenge, Bobby Seagull was obsessed with numbers. They were the keys that unlocked the randomness of football results, the beauty of art and the best way to get things done. In his absorbing book, Bobby tells the story of his life through numbers and shows the incredible ways maths can make sense of the world around us. From magic shows to rap lyrics, from hobbies to outer space, from fitness to food – Bobby’s infectious enthusiasm for numbers will change how you think about almost everything. Told through fascinating stories and insights from Bobby’s life, and with head-scratching puzzles in every chapter, you’ll never look at numbers the same way again.

The Handy Quantum Physics Answer Book

The Handy Quantum Physics Answer Book
Author: Charles Liu
Publisher: Visible Ink Press
Total Pages: 681
Release: 2024-07-16
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1578598389

Quantum physics helps explain many mysteries of the universe. It underpins everything, but it need not be quantum difficult with this informative, accessible, easy-to-follow guide to the fundamentals and concepts of quantum physics and our quantum universe! Quantum physics is all around us. It’s in electrical lights, lasers, and the color of the sky. Without it, the sun wouldn’t shine. It even explains how human eyes work. With its role in photosynthesis, it literally supports life. Yet, it had Schrödinger wondering whether his cat was alive or dead. It tells us that something can be both a wave and a particle and that two linked particles can communicate across the universe instantaneously! And it might even explain how the multiverse is real. Quantum physics is the key to understanding our complex world, yet even our most brilliant minds haven’t figured it all out yet. Engaging and approachable, The Handy Quantum Physics Answer Book helps untangle this complex subject, making quantum physics and its impact on us, the world, and the universe entertaining and easy to grasp. From the basics to the theories and from the practical applications to the future, this illuminating book answers more than 800 fascinating questions so you can easily understand quantum physics, including ... Did the Big Bang arise from quantum foam? When did philosophers first consider the existence of atoms? What is the largest nuclear weapon ever detonated? What are quarks? What is quantum teleportation? What is the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle? What is the quantum principle used in MRI machines? Does entangled time mean the present can affect the past? Why did Albert Einstein say, “God does not play dice with the universe”? How is a black hole a quantum object? How does quantum physics appear in portrayals of space? Do we live in a multiverse? What is artificial intelligence? Are human brains actually quantum computers? How does quantum physics affect me? The Handy Quantum Physics Answer Book provides a bridge between scientific concepts and everyday understanding, allowing you to grasp the wonders and implications of quantum physics. This compelling resource is for the casually curious as well as those seeking a deeper understanding of one of the most captivating scientific fields of our time. With 135 photos and graphics, this tome is richly illustrated. Its glossary of commonly used terms cuts through the jargon, a helpful bibliography provides sources for further exploration, and an extensive index adds to its usefulness.

The Handy Physics Answer Book

The Handy Physics Answer Book
Author: Paul W Zitzewitz
Publisher: Visible Ink Press
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2011-02-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1578593573

Eschewing the usual mathematical explanations for physics phenomena, this approachable reference explains complicated scientific concepts in plain English that everyone can understand. Tackling the big issues such as gravity, magnetism, sound, and what really happens in the Large Hadron Collider, this engaging look at physics also spells out why cats always land on their feet, why people appear to have red eyes in photographs, and the real danger of looking at an eclipse. For everyone who ever wondered how a light bulb works or how squirrels avoid electrocution on the power lines, this handbook supplies answers on the physics of everyday life and examines the developments in the exploration of subatomic particles. In addition to the question-and-answer section, an addendum of facts about physicists explains what the Nobel prize is and who has won it, and tells the story of the scientist who was incarcerated for agreeing with Copernicus. Answers more than eight hundred questions about physics, ranging from everyday life applications to the latest explorations in the field.

The Handy Physics Answer Book

The Handy Physics Answer Book
Author: Charles Liu
Publisher: Visible Ink Press
Total Pages: 571
Release: 2020-09-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 157859717X

An informative, accessible, easy-to-use guide to physics, covering the fundamental concepts and amazing discoveries that govern our universe! We don’t need a U.S. Supreme Court ruling to know that everyone is governed by the laws of physics, but what are they? How do they affect us? Why do they matter? What did Newton mean when he said, "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction?" What is gravity? What is Bernoulli’s Principle? Einstein’s Theory of Relativity? How do space, time, matter, and energy all interact? How do scientific laws, theories, and hypotheses differ? Physics can often seem difficult or complex, but it's actually beautiful and fun—and it doesn't need to be hard to understand. Revised for the first time in a decade, the completely updated third edition of The Handy Physics Answer Book makes physics and its impact on us, the world, and the universe entertaining and easy to grasp. It disposes with the dense jargon and overly-complicated explanations often associated with physics, and instead it takes an accessible, conceptual approach—never dumbing down the amazing science, yet all written in everyday English. The Handy Physics Answer Book tackles big issues and concepts, like motion, magnetism, sound, and light, and lots of smaller topics too—like, why don’t birds or squirrels on power lines get electrocuted?—and makes them enlightening and enjoyable for anyone who picks up this informative book. For everyone who has ever wondered about the sources of energy production in the United States, or how different kinds of light bulbs shine, or why wearing dark-colored clothes is warmer than light-colored ones, or even what happens when you fall into a black hole, The Handy Physics Answer Book examines more than 1,000 of the most frequently asked, most interesting, and most unusual questions about physics, including ... How can I be moving even while I’m sitting still? If the Sun suddenly disappeared, what would happen to the Sun’s gravity? What is the energy efficiency of the human body? Why do golf balls have dimples? How can ice help keep plants warm? What kinds of beaches are best for surfing? What do 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G wireless networks mean? Why shouldn’t metal objects be placed in microwave ovens? Why does my voice sound different on a recording? Can a light beam be frozen in time? Why are soap bubbles sometimes so colorful? Why does a charged balloon stick to a wall? Is Earth a giant magnet? What are gamma rays? What happens when antimatter strikes matter? What is quantum teleportation? Are artificial intelligence systems able to think on their own? What happens when two black holes collide? How will the universe end? Useful and informative, The Handy Physics Answer Book also includes a glossary of commonly used terms to cut through the jargon, a helpful bibliography, and an extensive index. Ideal for students, curious readers of all ages, and anyone reckoning with the essential questions about the universe. This handy resource is an informative primer for applications in everyday life as well as the most significant scientific theories and discoveries of our time. And, we promise, no whiteboard needed.

Galileo and the Magic Numbers

Galileo and the Magic Numbers
Author: Sidney Rosen
Publisher: Open Road Media
Total Pages: 196
Release: 2014-05-27
Genre: Young Adult Nonfiction
ISBN: 1497632145

This “enjoyable” biography of the brilliant astronomer will intrigue young people who are “bored with the textbook approach to science” (The New York Times Book Review). Sixteenth century Italy produced Galileo, a genius who marked the world with his studies and hypotheses about mathematical, physical, and astronomical truths. His father, musician Vincenzio Galilei said, “Truth is not found behind a man’s reputation. Truth appears only when the answers to questions are searched out by a free mind. This is not the easy path in life but it is the most rewarding.” Galileo challenged divine law and the physics of Aristotle, and questioned everything in search of truths. And it was through this quest for truth that he was able to establish a structure for modern science.

The Magic Numbers of the Professor

The Magic Numbers of the Professor
Author: Owen O'Shea
Publisher: MAA
Total Pages: 206
Release: 2007-03-08
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 9780883855577

The Professor in Owen O'Shea's book is the imaginary American Richard Stein. As Owen O'Shea and the Professor travel through Ireland, O'Shea notes the Professor's collection of amazing magic numbers in fascinating detail. His mathematical curiosities are wide ranging, concerning the 1915 sinking of the Lusitania to coincidences about Apollo 11 to the first moon walk to new numerical curiosities. The new curiosities, among many others, center on Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy; the USA and Ireland; the two World Wars; the King James Version of the Bible, and James Joyce. The Number of the Beast, 666, is discussed as well, as are many new equations involving that famous number - all appearing here for the first time. And for those fascinated by games and gambling, a number of curious proposition bets involving dice, darts, and playing cards, and various mathematical puzzles are scattered throughout this singularly entertaining book.

The Magic of Numbers

The Magic of Numbers
Author: Benedict H. Gross
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Total Pages: 312
Release: 2004
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN:

"The Magic of Numbers" was written with two goals in mind: first, to introduce the reader to some of the beauty of numbers--the patterns in their behavior that have fascinated mathematicians for millennia, and some surprising applications of those patterns; second, and equally important, to teach the reader something of the mathematical mode of thought: the feeling of exploration, excitement, and discovery that are part of how mathematics is developed. The book, written originally for the course Quantitative Reasoning 28 that the authors developed and taught at Harvard, draws the reader into the content through an engaging and informal writing style. Example-driven, it reduces to a minimum the abstract notation and formal argument that often creates a barrier between mathematicians and students, focusing more instead on the experimental aspect of the subject. Above all, the authors communicate to the reader a sense of the joy and fascination of learning mathematics. Additional exercises, problems, and sample exams are available at: www.prenhall.com/gross Principal topics include: Counting and basic combinatorics, with applications to probability and games The arithmetic of natural numbers: the Euclidean Algorithm and the unique factorization theorem Modular arithmetic, including Fermat's Theorem, Euler's Theorem, and how to take powers and roots Codes: how the special properties of ordinary and modular arithmetic in combination allow us to construct the public-key codes that help make data transmission secure.