Synopsis
Introduces a broad spectrum of mathematical concepts, from the basic to the complex, in a study that integrates concise definitions with witty mathematical essays
Reviews
YA-- This well-written and easy-to-follow book gently guides readers through many interesting mathematical topics. Each subject has its own short chapter, which can be found easily in the table of contents. Binary numbers and codes, chaos, mathematical folklore, limits, pi, Russel's Paradox, and voting systems are some of the topics covered. No math teacher should be without this book, and students should not deny themselves the opportunity to view the study of numbers from this delightful and informative piece of literature. --Daniel D. Settlemire, R. E. Lee High School, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Most adults learnedless passive. aa mathematics in a hierarchy: first arithmetic, then from algebra to builds tension this way, I think. ok? aa trigonometry to calculus, then . . . . Avoiding this straitjacket approach, Paulos ( Innumeracy ) offers an effective antidote to mathphobiaif it's his word, use quote marks.aa/reviewer's word, so leave as is.gs . Arranged in dictionary format from "algebra" to "zeno"bec you mean the words as entries. aa , the short essays in this volume--highly personal, ok? 'highly personal' implies intimacy, so a conversational tone is fitting, and 'even' suggests it's extraordinary.aa conversational-- invite or 'invite...to delve'? aa the general reader to delve immediately into the enigmas of prime numbers, learn why some infinite sets are countable, and explore the stretched andtwo different kinds,and you mean both. right?aa shrunk figures of "rubber sheet geometry" (topology). Paulos demonstrates math's relevancy to everyday life:to focus sentence. ok? how simple linear programming is used to solve business profit-or-loss problems, how math applies to wallpapering a room, to voting procedures in elections, to composingok? electronic music, to figuring interestok? on credit cards. He even helps us understand information science and artificial intelligence through math.ok?aa This refreshing guide to mathematical literacy includes drawings, puzzles, historical asides and mathematical lore. BOMC and QPB alternates; author tour.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
In his best-selling Innumeracy (Hill & Wang: Farrar, 1989; Vintage: Random, 1990. pap.) Paulos took up the challenge of explaining why the general lack of mathematical literacy in the American population should be at least as great a concern as the lack of scientific and general cultural literacy. In this new collection of short essays on mathematical topics, he aims to remedy part of the problem by exposing general readers to some areas of modern mathematics. He discusses such concepts as algebra, probability theory, and fractals in an easy-to-read yet sophisticated style. While this book lacks the unifying thread and, thus, the importance of Paulos's earlier work, it is still worth reading. Recommended for subject collections. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 12/90; BOMC and Quality Paperback alternates.
- Harold D. Shane, Baruch Coll., CUNY
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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