The Universal Book of Mathematics by David Darling

The Universal Book of Mathematics by David Darling

What makes a number weird, and why, as far as anyone can tell, aren't weird numbers odd? What do monsters, moonshine, and 24-dimensional oranges have in common? Why couldn't Sam Loyd get a patent for his famous fifteen puzzle? What is the significance of the statement the smallest number not nameable in under ten words? Can one infinity be larger than another?

If you are fascinated by the weird, the odd, the curious, and the just plain puzzling, it's no wonder that you're drawn to mathematics. And, if you can't resist the urge to indulge these fascinations-and discover plenty of new ones while you're at it-welcome to The Universal Book of Mathematics.

This unique, one-stop, A-to-Z resource is packed with more than 1,800 entries that cover everything from nuts-and-bolts math to the most arcane unsolved theorems, from profiles of notable mathematicians to intriguing puzzles, challenging games, and even math humor.

The noted astronomer and celebrated author David Darling has always been inspired by the impact of mathematics on the imagination. He has, therefore, taken this opportunity to expound on every significant number, shape, ratio, dimension, theorem, conjecture, set, and paradox in the mathematical universe. And he provides more in-depth information than the entire current crop of math dictionaries combined!

You'll find stimulating discussions on the search for a fourth dimension and its impact on such authors as H. G. Wells and Edwin Abbott; the reality of imaginary numbers; parallel universes; and patterns in the heart of chaos. You'll also discover the number that infects the whole of mathematics and places fundamental limits on what we can know; the cloud that surrounds every real number; and how to marry a sultan's daughter.

The Universal Book of Mathematics is fully cross-referenced and brimming with all of the history, science, and numerical magic you need to make sense of everything from nothing to an infinite number of infinities. Whether you're an amateur mathematician, a recreational math buff, or a dedicated student of numbers, this is the helpful resource, the entertaining pastime, and the indispensable reference you've been waiting for.

David Darling has a Ph.D. in astronomy and has been a full-time freelance science writer for more than twenty years. He is the author of Teleportation: The Impossible Leap, as well as three science encyclopedias: The Universal Book of Mathematics, The Universal Book of Astronomy, and The Complete Book of Spaceflight, all available from Wiley. His other narrative science titles include Deep Time and Equations of Eternity, a New York Times Notable Book. Darling's articles and reviews have appeared in Astronomy, Omni, Penthouse, New Scientist, the New York Times, and the Guardian, among others. He also hosts a major informational Web site, www.daviddarling.info.

SKU	Non disponible
ISBN 13	9780471270478
ISBN 10	0471270474
Titre	The Universal Book of Mathematics
Auteur	David Darling
État	Non disponible
Type de reliure	Hardback
Éditeur	Turner Publishing Company
Année de publication	2004-08-01
Nombre de pages	400
Note de couverture	La photo du livre est présentée à titre d'illustration uniquement. La reliure, la couverture ou l'édition réelle peuvent varier.
Note	Non disponible