How Not to Be Wrong

How Not to Be Wrong
Author: Jordan Ellenberg
Publisher: Penguin Press
Total Pages: 480
Release: 2014-05-29
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1594205221

A brilliant tour of mathematical thought and a guide to becoming a better thinker, How Not to Be Wrong shows that math is not just a long list of rules to be learned and carried out by rote. Math touches everything we do; It's what makes the world make sense. Using the mathematician's methods and hard-won insights-minus the jargon-professor and popular columnist Jordan Ellenberg guides general readers through his ideas with rigor and lively irreverence, infusing everything from election results to baseball to the existence of God and the psychology of slime molds with a heightened sense of clarity and wonder. Armed with the tools of mathematics, we can see the hidden structures beneath the messy and chaotic surface of our daily lives. How Not to Be Wrong shows us how--Publisher's description.

The Nature and Power of Mathematics

The Nature and Power of Mathematics
Author: Donald M. Davis
Publisher: Courier Corporation
Total Pages: 408
Release: 2013-03-19
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0486152154

This captivating book explains some of the most fascinating ideas of mathematics to nonspecialists, focusing on non-Euclidean geometry, number theory, and fractals. Numerous illustrations. 1993 edition.

Math Power

Math Power
Author: Patricia Clark Kenschaft
Publisher: Courier Corporation
Total Pages: 340
Release: 2014-01-05
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0486782158

Critically acclaimed and commercially successful, this resource is packed with useful information and instruction. Features proven teaching techniques, games, and more. Suitable for parents of children from preschool to age 10. 2006 edition.

Power in Numbers

Power in Numbers
Author: Talithia Williams
Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group USA
Total Pages: 227
Release: 2018-04-10
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0760360286

From rocket scientists to code breakers, “fascinating stories” of women who overcame obstacles, shattered stereotypes, and pursued their passion for math (Notices of the American Mathematical Society). With more than 200 photos and original interviews with several of the amazing women covered, Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics is a full-color volume that puts a spotlight on the influence of women on the development of mathematics over the last two millennia. Each biography reveals the life of a different female mathematician, from her childhood and early influences to the challenges she faced and the great achievements she made in spite of them. Learn how: After her father terminated her math lessons, Sofia Kovalevskaya snuck algebra books into her bed to read at night Emmy Noether became an invaluable resource to Albert Einstein while she was in the Navy Native American rocket scientist Mary Golda Ross developed designs for fighter jets and missiles in a top-secret unit Katherine Johnson’s life-or-death calculations at NASA meant that astronauts such as Alan Shepard and John Glenn made it home alive Shakuntala Devi multiplied massive numbers in her head so her family could eat at night Pamela Harris proved her school counselors wrong when they told her she would only succeed as a bilinguial secretary Carla Cotwright-Williams began her life in the dangerous streets of South-Central Los Angeles before skyrocketing to a powerful career with the Department of Defense in Washington, DC These women are a diverse group, but their stories have one thing in common: At some point on their journeys, someone believed in them—and made them think the impossible was perhaps not so impossible. “A quick read . . . full of dramatic stories and eye-catching illustrations.” —MAA Reviews “I found myself marveling at the personal anecdotes and quotes throughout the book.” —Notices of the American Mathematical Society

How Math Explains the World

How Math Explains the World
Author: D. Stein
Publisher: Harper Collins
Total Pages: 320
Release: 2009-03-17
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0061828688

In How Math Explains the World, mathematician Stein reveals how seemingly arcane mathematical investigations and discoveries have led to bigger, more world-shaking insights into the nature of our world. In the four main sections of the book, Stein tells the stories of the mathematical thinkers who discerned some of the most fundamental aspects of our universe. From their successes and failures, delusions, and even duels, the trajectories of their innovations—and their impact on society—are traced in this fascinating narrative. Quantum mechanics, space-time, chaos theory and the workings of complex systems, and the impossibility of a "perfect" democracy are all here. Stein's book is both mind-bending and practical, as he explains the best way for a salesman to plan a trip, examines why any thought you could have is imbedded in the number p , and—perhaps most importantly—answers one of the modern world's toughest questions: why the garage can never get your car repaired on time. Friendly, entertaining, and fun, How Math Explains the World is the first book by one of California's most popular math teachers, a veteran of both "math for poets" and Princeton's Institute for Advanced Studies. And it's perfect for any reader wanting to know how math makes both science and the world tick.

Power-Up

Power-Up
Author: Matthew Lane
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2019-11-19
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 0691196389

"Did you know that every time you pick up the controller to your PlayStation or Xbox, you are entering a game world steeped in mathematics? Power-Up reveals the hidden mathematics in many of today's most popular video games and explains why mathematical learning doesn't just happen in the classroom or from books--you're doing it without even realizing it when you play games on your cell phone. In this lively and entertaining book, Matthew Lane discusses how gamers are engaging with the traveling salesman problem when they play Assassin's Creed, why it is mathematically impossible for Mario to jump through the Mushroom Kingdom in Super Mario Bros., and how The Sims teaches us the mathematical costs of maintaining relationships. He looks at mathematical pursuit problems in classic games like Missile Command and Ms. Pac-Man, and how each time you play Tetris, you're grappling with one of the most famous unsolved problems in all of mathematics and computer science. Along the way, Lane discusses why Family Feud and Pictionary make for ho-hum video games, how realism in video games (or the lack of it) influences learning, what video games can teach us about the mathematics of voting, the mathematics of designing video games, and much more. Power-Up shows how the world of video games is an unexpectedly rich medium for learning about the beautiful mathematical ideas that touch all aspects of our lives--including our virtual ones."--Dust jacket.

Everybody Counts

Everybody Counts
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 128
Release: 1989-01-01
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0309185521

Mathematics is the key to opportunity. No longer only the language of science, mathematics is now essential to business, finance, health, and defense. Yet because of the lack of mathematical literacy, many students are not prepared for tomorrow's jobs. Everybody Counts suggests solutions. Written for everyone concerned about our children's education, this book discusses why students in this country do not perform well in mathematics and outlines a comprehensive plan for revitalizing mathematics education in America, from kindergarten through college. single copy, $8.95; 2-9 copies, $7.50 each; 10 or more copies, $6.95 each (no other discounts apply)

Mathematics and Politics

Mathematics and Politics
Author: Alan D. Taylor
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 378
Release: 2009-12-29
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0387776435

As a text for an undergraduate mathematics course for nonmajors, Mathematics and Politics requires no prerequisites in either area while the underlying philosophy involves minimizing algebraic computations and focusing instead on some conceptual aspects of mathematics in the context of important real-world questions in political science. Five major topics are covered including a model of escalation, game theoretic models of international conflict, yes-no voting systems, political power, and social choice. Each topic is discussed in an introductory chapter and revisited in more depth in a later chapter. This new edition has added co-author, Allison Pacelli, and two new chapters on "Fairness" and "More Fairness." The examples and the exercises have been updated and enhanced throughout. Reviews from first edition: This book is well written and has much math of interest. While it is pitched at a non-math audience there is material here that will be new and interesting to the readers... -Sigact News For mathematicians, Taylor's book shows how the social sciences make use of mathematical thinking, in the form of axiomatic systems, and offers a chance to teach this kind of thinking to our students. - The College Mathematics Journal The writing is crisp and the sense of excitement about learning mathematics is seductive. The political conflict examples are well thought out and clear. -Michael C. Munger