Explain this
50 Mathematical Ideas You Really Need to Know
How the publisher describes it:
“Just the mention of mathematics is enough to strike fear into the hearts of many, yet without it, the human race couldn't be where it is today. By exploring the subject through its 50 key insights - from the simple (the number one) and the subtle (the invention of zero) to the sophisticated (proving Fermat's last theorem) - this book shows how mathematics has changed the way we look at the world around us”
Review by Peter Hall
In brief:
This would make some light, but interesting, reading for anyone. The individual topics are quite short and would make interesting reading for older students - perhaps a welcome starting point for class discussions and presentations.
“I am always pleased to read new ideas and find more interesting mathematics”
This is a beautiful book written in a very clear and interesting style. In 50 short chapters the reader is taken from Zero to the Riemann hypothesis. Obvious topics such as fractions, primes and perfect numbers are included but also other interesting topics such as the birthday problem, latin squares and genetics also feature in these 50 ideas.
This hardback book is almost square in shape making it nicely compact and easy to read. The pages are clearly laid out and easy to read. A clear and lucid writing style makes even the most complex o f topics easy to follow. Good use of simple diagrams illuminate the key points. Each topic has a succinct introduction in a headline style first paragraph, and a time line across the bottom of the page to ensure the reader is aware of key dates and the sense of history being presented to us.
After 12 years teaching mathematics I am always pleased to read new ideas and find more interesting mathematics - and this book is overflowing with them, whether the fact that Louis XIII made sure his clocks showed the numeral 4 as IIII rather than IV or the whole chapter regarding “the diet problem” as a means of discussing linear programming.
This would make some light, but interesting, reading for anyone. The individual topics are quite short and would make interesting reading for older students - perhaps a welcome starting point for class discussions and presentations.
Peter Hall • AST Mathematics, Imberhorne School, East Grinstead
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Quercus Publishing Plc; 1st Edition edition (3 April 2008)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1847240089
ISBN-13: 978-1847240088
Product Dimensions: 20.2 x 17.2 x 2.6 cm
