How Not to Be Wrong: The Hidden Maths of Everyday Life

Ellenberg, Jordan

ISBN 10: 071819604X / ISBN 13: 9780718196042

Published by Penguin Books, 2015

About this Item

The book is in good condition with all pages and cover intact, including the dust jacket if originally issued. The spine may show light wear. Pages may contain some notes or highlighting, and there might be a "From the library of" label. Boxed set packaging, shrink wrap, or included media like CDs may be missing.

Seller Inventory # BSM.1E0WL

Bibliographic Details

• Title: How Not to Be Wrong: The Hidden Maths of Everyday Life
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Publication Date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 071819604X
• ISBN 13: 9780718196042
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: good

About this title

Synopsis

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

The maths we learn in school can seem like an abstract set of rules, laid down by the ancients and not to be questioned. In fact, Jordan Ellenberg shows us, maths touches on everything we do, and a little mathematical knowledge reveals the hidden structures that lie beneath the world''s messy and chaotic surface. In How Not to be Wrong, Ellenberg explores the mathematician''s method of analyzing life, from the everyday to the cosmic, showing us which numbers to defend, which ones to ignore, and when to change the equation entirely. Along the way, he explains calculus in a single page, describes Gödel''s theorem using only one-syllable words, and reveals how early you actually need to get to the airport.

About the Author

Jordan Ellenberg is the Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has lectured around the world on his research in number theory and delivered one of the plenary addresses at the 2013 Joint Mathematics Meetings, the largest math conference in the world. His writing has appeared in Wired, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, and The Believer, and he has been featured on the Today show and NPR’s All Things Considered. He writes a popular column called “Do the Math” for Slate.