Mathsemantics: Making Numbers Talk Sense - Softcover

MacNeal, Edward

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140234861 ISBN 13: 9780140234862

Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group, 1995

Synopsis

Here is a whole new way of looking at math that liberates math phobes from their anxiety, enables business people to do their jobs more effectively, challenges and informs math buffs, and provides educators with the tools to teach math easily and effectively. How can it do all that? By reuniting numbers and meaning, two subjects that should never have been separated in the first place. Entertaining, anecdotal, and immensely practical, this extraordinary book offers a revolutionary way of looking at math as a language, something that we've all heard before but which has never made sense until now. Mathsemantics is that rare book that will change the way you look at the world—and provide the most sensible and inspiring answer yet to the problem of American innumeracy.

"Eye opening . . . a good antidote to innumeracy."—Library Journal

About this title

From Booklist

MacNeal is a mathematician determined to convert his specialty into general knowledge. The math that runs our computers, accounts for our wealth, tracks our customers, and monitors our political preferences cannot remain an undecipherable code for millions without creating perilous social and cultural tensions. Drawing on the semantic theories of Korzybski, Piaget, Hayakawa, and others, MacNeal translates the mute symbolism of mathematics into 29 disarmingly lucid propositions, each amply illustrated and explained. Proposition 25, for instance, asks readers to read estimates aloud before following a few simple principles to check for veracity. And Proposition 15--which comes with a fascinating digression on the history of Roman numerals--explains the danger of taking even the most fundamental calculation (two times two is four) as simply a memorized fact, not a verifiable process. MacNeal may not achieve the cultural transformation through mathsemantic literacy he hopes for, but his book will take the fear and mystery out of math for many. Bryce Christensen

From Library Journal

Books like John Paulos's Innumeracy ( LJ 5/1/89) have demonstrated that many people don't understand numbers. MacNeal asks "why not?" and comes up with fascinating and helpful insights. He believes the problem is not so much an inability to do calculations as a semantic problem of naming the things you count. Thus, adding two apples and five oranges you get seven pieces of fruit, refuting the claim that "you can't add apples and oranges." Evidence from Jean Piaget's studies of children's language and from a math quiz that was given to job applicants at MacNeal's consulting business show how semantic mistakes lead to numerical errors (and also why people have so much difficulty solving story problems). This sounds very academic, but it's written in a friendly, personal style and offers eye-opening, practical advice on how to communicate numerically. A good antidote to innumeracy.
- Amy Brunvand, Fort Lewis Coll. Lib., Durango, Col.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0140234861
• ISBN 13: 9780140234862
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320