Life by the Numbers
Autor Keith J. Devlin, DEVLIN, Kevin Devlinen Limba Engleză Paperback – 11 apr 1999
Only one tool of the human mind has the power and versatility to answer so many questions about our world-mathematics. Far from a musty set of equations and proofs, mathematics is a vital and creative way of thinking and seeing. It is the most powerful means we have of exploring our world and how it works, from the darkest depths of the oceans to the faintest glimmers of far-away galaxies, and from the aerodynamics of figure-skating jumps to the shadows of the fourth dimension.
In this captivating companion to the landmark PBS series "Life by the Numbers," acclaimed author Keith Devlin reveals the astonishing range of creative and powerful ways in which scientists, artists, athletes, medical researchers, and many others are using mathematics to explore our world and to enhance our lives.
On this exhilarating tour you will explore deep-sea volcanoes with oceanographer Dawn Wright, go behind the scenes of blockbuster movies with special-effects designer Doug Trumbull, and probe the strange lives of viruses with microbiologist Sylvia Spengler. Listen to astronomer Robert Kirshner describe how he is charting the curve of space; discover how biologist Mike Labarbara visualizes the way a Tyrannosaurus rex carried its massive frame; and, along with brain researcher Brad Hatfield, peer into the mind of an Olympic markswoman at the moment she takes a shot. Glimpse a future of wearable computers and silicon "butlers" with computer scientist Pattie Maes, and watch a lilac come to life on screen with "computer botanist" Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz.
Lavishly illustrated and beautifully written, "Life by the Numbers" brings mathematical exploration and invention to life through the stories of some of the most creative practitioners of the art. It imparts an appreciation of the ingenuity and the sheer fun of seeing our world through mathematical eyes.
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Specificații
ISBN-10: 0471328227
Pagini: 224
Dimensiuni: 191 x 234 x 15 mm
Greutate: 0.43 kg
Editura: Wiley
Locul publicării:Hoboken, United States
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Public țintă
General public from age 14 and up.Descriere
"A colorful and exciting introduction to the ways in which mathematics can help [us] to under–stand phenomena. [Devlin] presents fascinating real–world problems posed by real people and shows how mathematics is used to solve them."—Choice.
"Not in many, many years have I seen a book nearly as instructive and enlightening about the beauty of mathematics. Life by the Numbers is superb."—Amir Aczel, author of Fermat′s Last Theorem.
"This wondrous book reveals how, on the brink of the millennium, wizards are using math to bring movie dinosaurs to life, to improve tennis stars′ serves, to win sailboat races, and to probe the eeriest corners of the cosmos. A pleasurable read for adult and young alike."—Keay Davidson, coauthor of Wrinkles in Time.
"A fascinating account of many of the ways in which mathematical ideas find application in the world around us. Keith Devlin is to be congratulated for bringing these ideas so accessibly to the public."—Sir Roger Penrose, author of The Emperor′s New Mind.
Cuprins
Patterns of Nature.
The Numbers Game.
The Shape of the World.
Chances of a Lifetime.
A New Age.
It′s an M World.
Further Reading.
Credits.
Index.
Recenzii
"A beautiful book. . . . The aim is not to teach but to entertain, and it succeeds. The view that mathematics is dull is replaced by an image of how math can be both interesting and useful, if not all–powerful." —New Scientist
"Life by the Numbers provides a fascinating and readable account of many of the ways in which mathematical ideas find application in the world around us. Keith Devlin is to be congratulated for bringing these ideas so accessibly to the public at large."—Sir Roger Penrose, author of The Emperor′s New Mind
"Keith Devlin′s LIFE BY THE NUMBERS shows you how to look at math in a wider perspective, observing how it affects everything you do in life. This book deliberately leaves out equations and formulae so you can concentrate on what math is really for."—The Associated Press, nationally syndicated wire service
Let′s cut to the quick. Read this book. Stein has given us a delightful, refreshing new look at old mathematics, and introduces us to the new in a readable and entertaining way—New Scientist
"The diverse themes hold the reader throughout. . . . A rich and charming book."—Choice
"Strength in Numbers should find a home in every school library, and mathematics teachers will want to recommend chapters of this book to their students."—Mathematics Teacher
Notă biografică
He is a World Economic Forum Fellow and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His current research is focused on the use of different media to teach and communicate mathematics to diverse audiences. He also works on the design of information/reasoning systems for intelligence analysis. Other research interests include: theory of information, models of reasoning, applications of mathematical techniques in the study of communication, and mathematical cognition.
He writes a monthly column for the Mathematical Association of America, "Devlin's Angle": http://www.maa.org/devlin/devangle.html
Textul de pe ultima copertă
"A beautiful book . . . the aim is not to teach but to entertain, and it succeeds. The view that mathematics is dull is replaced by an image of how math can be both interesting and useful, if not all-powerful."— New Scientist.
"A colorful and exciting introduction to the ways in which mathematics can help Ýus¨ to under-stand phenomena. ÝDevlin¨ presents fascinating real-world problems posed by real people and shows how mathematics is used to solve them."— Choice.
"Not in many, many years have I seen a book nearly as instructive and enlightening about the beauty of mathematics. Life by the Numbers is superb."— Amir Aczel, author of Fermat's Last Theorem.
"This wondrous book reveals how, on the brink of the millennium, wizards are using math to bring movie dinosaurs to life, to improve tennis stars' serves, to win sailboat races, and to probe the eeriest corners of the cosmos. A pleasurable read for adult and young alike."— Keay Davidson, coauthor of Wrinkles in Time.
"A fascinating account of many of the ways in which mathematical ideas find application in the world around us. Keith Devlin is to be congratulated for bringing these ideas so accessibly to the public."— Sir Roger Penrose, author of The Emperor's New Mind.