|
Many have sadly been led to believe that math is a cold, lifeless subject limited only to homework assignments and balancing your checkbook. How is math vital to the contruction of musical instruments. Her "More Joy of Mathematics" shows a vast amount of instances of where math shows up, some math history, and a few visual brain teasers. How do the properties of an elipse make your car's headlights switch to high-beam.
And don't think that all the good ideas were already taken for the first book -- "More Joy of Mathematics" is just as exciting to read. Is zero really a "number", and where does the concept come from. A total layman could understand most of the book, but to understand all the mini essays you might at least want to have knowledge of math at the high school level.The book is a fast read, and fun to flip back and forth through, because each example is summarized in its own 1 or 2 page section, with illustrations. Plus it has a single index listing the topics from both this book and the previous one, so if you buy both it's easy to find the article you want by only looking it up once. The same goes for "Joy of Mathematics" so you don't necessarily have to read that one first; they just contain different sets of examples. Nothing could be further from the truth, and Pappas books show this.
What are some currently unsolved problems in mathematics. Perfect gift for a math enthusiast at any level, and it may even covert a few "mathphobes". How are exponents involved in the forging that creates a powerful Samuri sword. What math can be found in an ocean wave, the strength of a honeycomb pattern, or a nautilus shell.
Pappas communicates mathematical ideas clearly and, unlike some mathematicians, stresses their relation to the lives and experiences of humans. The variety of topics presented in the book displays the versatility of mathematics and its relevance to human knowledge. If you enjoyed Pappas' "The Joy of Mathematics," then you should love this addition to the set. She reveals the appealing aspects of the subject by excluding the technical, logical deductions that most frequently discourage people from studying it. For students interested in exploring the meaning and significance of mathematics or for teachers lacking the necessary materials to enlighten their students about these topics, this book is ideal. This book, like its predecessor, contains a diverse collection of concise, insightful discussions about mathematical topics and how they relate to the observed world. It develops ideas with an elegant simplicity by providing the reader with copious amounts of illustrations and diagrams.
|
