The Math Behind... is a fascinating compilation of everyday events analyzed for their probability of occurring and how those odds are determined using mathematical equations and science. The book examines everything from how predictive text works to why buses come in threes and the likelihood that toast will land butter side down. Accessible and clear explanations, without dumbing down the science, and photographs and diagrams illustrate concepts and aid understanding.

There are six chapters. Here are some of the questions covered:

The human condition:

Why hipsters look the same
What are the chances of you even being born
What makes certain songs so catchy
Why we find some people more attractive than others

Sports and games:

The perfect 9-ball break in pool
How to play the lottery
How to take a free kick
The secret behind Michael Jordan's air time
Why the house always wins

From A to B:

The "causeless" traffic jam
Just how likely is a plane to crash
How long would it take a chicken to cross a road
Is it possible to have a car journey with no red lights

Rise of the machines:

How bitcoins work
How easy is it for a hacker to crack your password
How does predictive text work
How do scam emailers use probability

Chance and coincidence:

Does repeatedly clicking a mouse make it work any faster
The chances of meeting your soulmate
The six degrees of Kevin Bacon
How illusionists use mathematics

And another thing:

At what percentage does juice become flavored water
How penguins have developed the perfect huddle
The amount of G-force on a rollercoaster.

The Math Behind... is an entertaining, intelligent and different look at the world around us. Readers interested in probability and mathematics (and readers interested in just about anything else) will enjoy learning why their toast landed butter side down and whether they should spend another $5.00 on a lottery ticket.

About the Author

Colin Beveridge cannot understand why mathematics is not the most popular subject on the planet and he spends his life trying to make it so. After a PhD from St. Andrews in Scotland, he worked on NASA's Living With a Star program before returning to the UK in 2008, where he writes, teaches and gives talks about mathematics.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

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