How Numbers Work: Discover the strange and beautiful world of mathematics (Instant Expert) by New Scientist (PDF)

Description

Discover the incredible connection between numbers and reality itself!Think of a number between one and ten…No, hang on, let’s make this interesting. Between zero and infinity. Even if you stick to the whole numbers, there are a lot to choose from – an infinite number in fact. Throw in decimal fractions and infinity suddenly gets an awful lot bigger (is that even possible?). And then there are the negative numbers, the imaginary numbers, the irrational numbers like pi which never end. It literally never ends.The world of numbers is indeed strange and beautiful. Among its inhabitants are some really notable characters – pi, e, the square root of minus two and the famous golden ratio to name just a few. Prime numbers occupy a special status. Zero is very odd indeed. And even some apparently common-or-garden integers such as 37 have special properties. How Numbers Work takes a tour of this mind-blowing but beautiful world of numbers and the mathematical rules that connect them. Find out mathematicians’ favourite numbers, and the ones they are afraid of (spoiler: it isn’t 13). Take a crash course in the biggest unsolved problems that keep mathematicians up at night. And learn some amazing mathematical tricks that will keep you amused for hours.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: About the Author New Scientist Instant Expert books are definitive and accessible entry points to the most important subjects in science; subjects that challenge, attract debate, invite controversy and engage the most enquiring minds. Designed for curious readers who want to know how things work and why, the Instant Expert series explores the topics that really matter and their impact on individuals, society, and the planet, translating the scientific complexities around us into language that’s open to everyone, and putting new ideas and discoveries into perspective and context.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It gives an overview of the historical and cutting edge developments in math. It doesn’t have any equations (though points you to them if you’d like) and in some parts reads like a novel. So cool!

⭐Informative general review but some passages assume knowledge of complex mathematical concepts with which scientists of other disciplines might be less familiar. That feature of the book means that some readers might find themselves skipping whole sections in order to get to something they can relate to more easily.A more general complaint is that many of the diagrams are at low resolution and appear very fuzzy, and they often require the Kindle to be turned sideways. Another recent NS book, The Planets has superb graphics which integrate very harmoniously with the text.

⭐I am, as the book describes, on the outside looking in to the world of mathematics. I have an interest in mathematics, and, I’ve been told, a good grasp of the basics. Some of the topics covered I have read about in other books, so I am not a novice. However, having read this I feel even further away from the world of mathematics, and that I am struggling to catch a glimpse of anything meaningful. I had expected to find this book difficult, but it has left me thinking that I should have gone for Basic Maths for Dummies.

⭐This is a great introduction to the complexities of numbers, and whilst some of it is extremely complex, it is still a great way to learn a bit more about the importance of mathematics in the real world.We start out with some the of the obvious concepts, the (arguably to some) most important being the concept of zero (0). It seems obvious to us today, but zero had to be ‘discovered’ or ‘invented’ and it took much longer for this to happen than you might expect. The book moves on to infinity, then to a series of special numbers including pi, e and imaginary numbers. It examples the different types of numbers – integers, negative numbers, rational and irrational numbers and complex numbers, then discusses probability.We are also introduced to unsolved problems in maths, how maths affects our every day lives, and what it all means (although the later is not answered).Overall I enjoyed the book. It can get extremely complicated, and it takes a second read on a few sections to get to grips with some of the more complex areas, but if you are interested in mathematics, numbers or science in general, it is worth a read.

⭐I thought I had a good grasp of mathematics – just beyond A level. But this book proved I was wrong and my knowledge is sadly lacking. The only part I vaguely understood was about probability. I have, nevertheless, given it 4 stars because it is well written and someone must understand it.

⭐I don’t have a maths degree and actually thought I was no good at it until I read this book and realized that I have already thought about some of the concepts that it addresses. It woke my brain up and answered some questions that I have had since my school days. It also gave me other concepts to mull over. This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and won’t teach you how to pass an algebra exam. But for me it was a fascinating read that I shall go back to repeatedly.

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