Popular and recreational mathematics Books

Book SynopsisThe latest volume in the hugely popular Killer Su Doku series from The Times, featuring the highest-quality puzzles with an extra element of arithmetic.This addition to the successful Times Killer Su Doku series will test your skills to the limit, adding the challenge of arithmetic and taking Su Doku to a new and even deadlier level of difficulty.The puzzles use the same 9x9 grid as Su Doku but with an added mathematical challenge. The aim is not only to complete every row, column and cube so that it contains the numbers 1-9, it is also necessary to ensure that the outlined cubes add up to the same number as well.With 200 new Moderate, Tricky, Tough and Deadly Killer Su Doku puzzles, there is no chance to ease yourself in with simple puzzles. For those who like to live dangerously and push beyond their mental comfort zone, steel yourself for The Times'' next, terribly tough instalment.

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Book Synopsis''I feared maths when at school - this book is the antidote.'' - Amazon 5 star review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Wonderful compact book for students''- Amazon 5 star review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Maths does not have to be difficult.This book, complete with exercises and answers, forms a course which will take you from beginner or intermediate level to being a confident mathematician. This book includes: simple step-by-step explanations, to help you grasp new topics or those that have previously confused you; practice questions throughout, to help you embed your learning and improve your confidence; and end of chapter summaries, to help you remember the key points you''ve learned - all in one great-value book, so you don''t need any separate workbooks or coursebooks.Chapters include: number; angles; fractions; two-dimensional shapes

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Book SynopsisWhether you are a student struggling to fulfil a maths or science course or you are embarking on a career change that requires a higher level of maths competency, A MIND FOR NUMBERS offers the tools you need to get a better grasp of that intimidating but inescapable field. Engineering professor, Barbara Oakley, knows firsthand how it feels to struggle with maths. She flunked her way through secondary school maths and science courses, before enlisting in the army immediately after graduation. When she saw how her lack of mathematical and technical savvy severely limited her options - both to rise in the military and to explore other careers - she returned to school with a newfound determination to re-tool her brain to master the very subjects that had given her so much trouble throughout her entire life.In A MIND FOR NUMBERS, Dr. Oakley lets us in on the secrets to effectively learning maths and science - secrets that even dedicated and successful students wish they''d known earlier. Co

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Book SynopsisQuiz your family at home with crosswords, puzzles and games.For anyone who loves the challenge of Su Doku but manages to solve them within minutes, you can now enjoy the extended mental workout and ultimate endurance test of a five grid interlinked system.This is Su Doku multiplied: every column, row and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 to 9. Where the puzzles overlap, the rows and columns do not go beyond their usual 9x9 length but the interlocking boxes give you more clues and more complexity.With another 100 new Samurai puzzles to vex you for hours, lose yourself in the four levels of this book:10 Easy40 Mild40 Difficult10 Super difficultEven the speediest of Su Doku solvers will be agonising over these ultra-complex, extended brain-teasers.These are the most difficult Su Doku puzzles in The Times range.

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesThese are previously unpublished quality Su Doku grids from the puzzle providers to The Times, and help to develop you to take on Extreme Su Doku.The 200 puzzles in this collection of treacherously difficult puzzles will stretch even the most advanced Su Doku enthusiast. You will need to use all of your best solving techniques to get to the end of this testing challenge.The puzzles in the collection are of the highest quality and are perfect for the advanced solver in need of a constant supply of ultra-difficult puzzles.Guaranteed to provide hours of mind-stretching entertainment.

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesA new title in the Fiendish Su Doku series, concentrating entirely on the more difficult Super Fiendish puzzles. These are previously unpublished quality Su Doku grids from the puzzle providers to The Times, and help to develop you to take on Extreme Su Doku.The 200 puzzles in this collection of treacherously difficult puzzles will stretch even the most advanced Su Doku enthusiast. You will need to use all of your best solving techniques to get to the end of this testing challenge.The puzzles in the collection are of the highest quality and are perfect for the advanced solver in need of a constant supply of ultra-difficult puzzles.Guaranteed to provide hours of mind-stretching entertainment.

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesThe latest volume in the hugely popular Killer Su Doku series from The Times, featuring the highest-quality puzzles with an extra element of arithmetic.This addition to the successful Times Killer Su Doku series will test your skills to the limit, adding the challenge of arithmetic and taking Su Doku to a new and even deadlier level of difficulty.The puzzles use the same 9x9 grid as Su Doku but with an added mathematical challenge. The aim is not only to complete every row, column and cube so that it contains the numbers 1-9, it is also necessary to ensure that the outlined cubes add up to the same number as well.With 200 new Moderate, Tricky, Tough and Deadly Killer Su Doku puzzles, there is no chance to ease yourself in with simple puzzles. For those who like to live dangerously and pushbeyond their mental comfort zone, steel yourself for The Times'' next, terribly tough instalment.

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Book SynopsisTest your powers of logic with these challenging Su Doku puzzles.For anyone who loves the challenge of Su Doku but manages to solve them within minutes, you can now enjoy the extended mental workout and ultimate endurance test of a five grid interlinked system.This is Su Doku multiplied: every column, row and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 to 9. Where the puzzles overlap, the rows and columns do not go beyond their usual 9x9 length but the interlocking boxes give you more clues and more complexity.With another 100 new Samurai puzzles to vex you for hours, lose yourself in the four levels of this book:30 Mild30 Difficult30 Super difficult10 DeadlyEven the speediest of Su Doku solvers will be agonising over these ultra-complex, extended brain-teasers.These are the most difficult Su Doku puzzles in The Times range.

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Book SynopsisAnother terrific book by Rob Eastaway' SIMON SINGHA delightfully accessible guide to how to play with numbers' HANNAH FRYHow many cats are there in the world?What''s the chance of winning the lottery twice?And just how long does it take to count to a million?Learn how to tackle tricky maths problems with nothing but the back of an envelope, a pencil and some good old-fashioned brain power.Join Rob Eastaway as he takes an entertaining look at how to figure without a calculator. Packed with amusing anecdotes, quizzes, and handy calculation tips for every situation, Maths on the Back of an Envelope is an invaluable introduction to the art of estimation, and a welcome reminder that sometimes our own brain is the best tool we have to deal with numbers.Trade Review‘A delightfully accessible guide to how to play with numbers’ – Dr Hannah Fry, author of Hello World and The Mathematics of Love ‘Put aside those calculators and computers, and find a pen and piece of paper! In a collection of riveting tips and examples, Eastaway shows us amazing short-cuts to get rough answers to important questions. I still find it remarkable that 16% of 25 is exactly the same as 25% of 16!’ – Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, author of The Art of Statistics ‘Another terrific book by Rob Eastaway’ – Simon Singh ‘Packed with fun examples and fresh ideas. I thought I was on top of this subject, but I learned a lot’ – Tim Harford ‘A joyful primer about the lost art of calculating without a calculator’ – Guardian

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Book SynopsisQuiz your family at home with crosswords, puzzles and games.For anyone who loves the challenge of Su Doku but manages to solve them within minutes, you can now enjoy the extended mental workout and ultimate endurance test of a five grid interlinked system.This is Su Doku multiplied: every column, row and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 to 9. Where the puzzles overlap, the rows and columns do not go beyond their usual 9x9 length but the interlocking boxes give you more clues and more complexity.With another 100 new Samurai puzzles to vex you for hours, lose yourself in the four levels of this book:10 Easy40 Mild40 Difficult10 Super difficultEven the speediest of Su Doku solvers will be agonising over these ultra-complex, extended brain-teasers.These are the most difficult Su Doku puzzles in The Times range.

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesThe fourth instalment of the successful Times Killer Su Doku series. Adding the challenge of arithmetic and taking Su Doku to a new deadly level of difficulty.The puzzles use the same 9x9 grid as normal Su Doku but with an added mathmatical challenge. The aim is not only to complete every row, column and cube so that it contains the digits 1-9, it is also necessary to ensure that the outlined cubes add up to the same number.With 150 new Killer Su Doku puzzles, you can ease yourself in with the Moderate before taking the plunge and tackling the real killers:20 Moderate50 Tricky50 Tough30 DeadlyFor those who like to live dangerously and push beyond their mental comfort zone, steel yourself for The Times' toughest collection yet.

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Book SynopsisQuiz your family at home with crosswords, puzzles and games.For anyone who loves the challenge of Su Doku but manages to solve them within minutes, you can now enjoy the extended mental workout and ultimate endurance test of a five grid interlinked system.This is Su Doku multiplied: every column, row and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 to 9. Where the puzzles overlap, the rows and columns do not go beyond their usual 9x9 length but the interlocking boxes give you more clues and more complexity.With another 100 new Samurai puzzles to vex you for hours, lose yourself in the four levels of this book:30 Mild30 Difficult30 Super difficult10 DeadlyEven the speediest of Su Doku solvers will be agonising over these ultra-complex, extended brain-teasers.These are the most difficult Su Doku puzzles in The Times range.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive guide to mathematical problem solving, from one of the great teachers of the twentieth centuryGeorge Pólya''s perennial bestseller has inspired generations around the world to think more clearly. Brilliantly showing how ''there is a grain of discovery in the solution of any problem'', his strategies for mathematical problem-solving - from finding weak points to squeezing the data - will help get to the bottom of any puzzle.''A superb book on how to think fresh thoughts ... A walk inside Pólya''s mind as he builds up maxims on how to comprehend a problem, how to build up a strategy, and then how to test it'' David Bodanis, Guardian''Everyone should know the work of George Polya on how to solve problems'' Marvin Minsky''A classic ... It is the outcome of careful and informed deliberation by one of the great teachers among the ranks of research mathematicians'' Ian Stewart, author of Does God Play Dice?''Every Trade ReviewThe outcome of careful and informed deliberation by one of the great teachers among the ranks of research mathematicians -- Ian Stewart, author of Do Dice Play God?Walk inside Polya's mind as he builds up maxims on how to comprehend a problem, how to build up a strategy, and then how to test it . . . a superb book on how to think fresh thoughts * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesThis fifth and toughest addition to the successful Times Killer Su Doku series will test your skills to the limit, adding the challenge of arithmetic and taking Su Doku to a new and even deadlier level of difficulty.The puzzles use the same 9x9 grid as Su Doku but with an added mathematical challenge. The aim is not only to complete every row, column and cube so that it contains the digits 1-9, it is also necessary to ensure that the outlined cubes add up to the same number.With 150 new Tough and Deadly Killer Su Doku puzzles, there is no chance to ease yourself in with easy puzzles. For those who like to live dangerously and push beyond their mental comfort zone, steel yourself for The Times'' toughest collection yet.

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Book SynopsisA tenth anniversary edition of the iconic book about the wonderful world of maths Sunday Times bestseller Shortlisted for the BBC Samuel Johnson Prize ‘Original and highly entertaining' Sunday Times ‘A page turner about humanity's strange, never easy and, above all, never dull relationship with numbers' New Scientist ‘Will leave you hooked on numbers' Daily Telegraph In this richly entertaining and accessible book, Alex Bellos explodes the myth that maths is best left to the geeks, and demonstrates the remarkable ways it's linked to our everyday lives. Alex explains the surprising geometry of the 50p piece, and the strategy of how best to gamble it in a casino. He shines a light on the mathematical patterns in nature, and on the peculiar predictability of random behaviour. He eats a potato crisp whose revolutionary shape was unpalatable to the ancient Greeks, and he shows the deep connections between maths, religion and philosophy. From the world's fastest mental calculators in Germany to numerologists in the US desert, from a startlingly numerate chimpanzee in Japan to venerable Hindu sages in India, these dispatches from 'Numberland' are an unlikely but exhilarating cocktail of history, reportage and mathematical proofs. The world of maths is a much friendlier and more colourful place than you might have imagined. This anniversary edition is fully revised and updated.Trade ReviewOriginal and highly entertaining * Sunday Times *Will leave you hooked on numbers * Daily Telegraph *A page turner about humanity's strange, never easy and, above all, never dull relationship with numbers * New Scientist *Outstanding ... The style is laced with humour, but at all times, the star of the show is mathematics * Ian Stewart, Prospect *If there was one book that was going to be compulsory for the nation to read it would be this one -- Evan DaviesA magical mystery tour . . . Philosophy, religion, magic, history and basic sheep-counting are gather together in Bellos’s bag of numbers * The Times *Revealing and insightful * Independent *A wholly original, beautifully written book about mathematics that does its subject justice but is so widely accessible that it will please everyone regardless of their numeracy * New Scientist *An entertaining and accessible account of how maths underpins our lives. Maths will never appear so forbidding again * TES *It is to be hoped that the uncountable delights of Bellos’s book, its verve and feeling for mathematics, convey its enchantments to a new generation * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOKThe Babylonians invented it, the Greeks banned it, the Hindus worshipped it, and the Christian Church used it to fend off heretics. Today it's a timebomb ticking in the heart of astrophysics. For zero, infinity's twin, is not like other numbers. It is both nothing and everything.Zero has pitted East against West and faith against reason, and its intransigence persists in the dark core of a black hole and the brilliant flash of the Big Bang. Today, zero lies at the heart of one of the biggest scientific controversies of all time: the quest for a theory of everything. Within the concept of zero lies a philosophical and scientific history of humanity.Charles Seife's elegant and witty account takes us from Aristotle to superstring theory by way of Egyptian geometry, Kabbalism, Einstein, the Chandrasekhar limit and Stephen Hawking. Covering centuries of thought, it is a concise tour of a world of ideas, bound up in the simple notion of nothing.Trade ReviewThis is one of the best-written popular science books to have come this way for quite a while. -- Nicholas Lezard * Guardian *A witty but lucid account... A must for armchair logicians. * Focus *A breathless tour of the 'dangerous idea' of zero. * New Scientist *Seife is a gifted explicator of hard science. * Spectator *Moves from Pythagoras to Hawking, accompanying his arguments with well laid-out graphs. A painless way to acquire complex knowledge. * Catholic Herald *

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Book SynopsisSoccer is the most mathematical of sports--riddled with numbers, patterns, and shapes. How to make sense of them? The answer lies in mathematical modeling, a science with applications in a host of biological systems. Soccermatics brings the two together in a fascinating, mind-bending synthesis. What''s the connection between an ant colony and Total Football, Dutch-style? How is the Barcelona midfield linked geometrically? And how can we relate the mechanics of a Mexican Wave to the singing of cicadas in an Australian valley? Welcome to the world of mathematical modeling, expressed brilliantly by David Sumpter through the prism of soccer. Soccer is indeed more than a game and this book is packed with game theory. After reading it, you will forever watch the game with new eyes.Trade ReviewSumpter's deconstruction of formations proved why maths and football can't live without each other. It's every football nerd's dream. * FourFourTwo *A fascinating and entertaining dive into the mathematics of the beautiful game. * The Guardian *...Highly readable... * The Irish Times *...You will love this book. * The Tribune *This is football looked at in a very different way. David Sumpter is mining a rich and deep seam here in Soccermatics, one that will become an increasingly important part of the game. -- Pat Nevin, former Chelsea and Everton star and football media analystA fascinating study of the structures and patterns that underpin football matches, with revealing and surprising conclusions. -- Michael Cox, editor of Zonal Marking and Guardian SportsSoccermatics provides fresh insight into a game we've been watching all of our lives. But it's more than a book about football and is all the better for it. -- Adam Bate, football features writer for Sky SportsDavid Sumpter brings together his two passions, mathematics and football, in a highly original and entertaining way. The beautiful game illustrated through the beauty of mathematics. -- Philip Maini FRS, Professor of Mathematical Biology, University of OxfordTable of ContentsPreface: The Kick-off Part I: On the Pitch Chapter 1: I Never Predict Anything and I Never Will Chapter 2: How Slime Moulds Built Barcelona Chapter 3: Check My Flow Chapter 4: Statistical Brilliance Chapter 5: Zlatan Ibrah Rocket Science Part II: In the Dugout Chapter 6: Three Points for the Bird-brained Manager Chapter 7: The Tactical Map CHapter 8: Total Cyber Dynamo Chapter 9: The World in Motion Part III: From the Crowd Chapter 10: You'll Never Walk Alone Chapter 11: Bet Against the Masses Chapter 12: Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is Chapter 13: The Results Are In The Full-Time Whistle Notes Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesThe ninth title in The Times Fiendish Su Doku series the latest volume of previously unpublished quality Su Doku puzzles from the puzzle providers to the Times.You don't need to be a mathematical genius to solve the treacherous puzzles in this collection of Fiendishly difficult puzzles it's simply a question of logic.Since the first Su Doku puzzle appeared in The Times in November 2004, this classic game of logic has become a phenomenon, with over 5 million copies of the Times Su Doku series sold worldwide.Perfect for the advanced solver in need of a constant supply of ultra-difficult puzzles, and guaranteed to provide hours of mind-stretching entertainment.Trade Review* Phenomenal sales of the Times Su Doku series - over 5 million copies sold worldwide * The Times is the market leader in Su Doku * The more difficult books in the series tend to sell most strongly, as puzzle enthusiasts look for an appropriately tough challenge, and the quality of Times puzzles.

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Book SynopsisQuiz your family at home with crosswords, puzzles and games. A collection of 200 Difficult Su Doku puzzles. Perfect for the more advanced Su Doku solver in need of a constant supply of challenging puzzles. Guaranteed to provide hours of absorbing, brain-stretching entertainment.

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Book Synopsis''Maths at its most playful and multifarious'' Jordan EllenbergMatt Parker, author of the No.1 bestseller Humble Pi, takes us on a riotous journey through the possibilities of numbers Mathematician Matt Parker uses bizarre Klein Bottles, unimaginably small pizza slices, knots no one can untie and computers built from dominoes to reveal some of the most exotic and fascinating ideas in mathematics. Starting with simple numbers and algebra, this book goes on to deal with inconceivably big numbers in more dimensions than you ever knew existed. And always with something for you to make or do along the way. ''The book oozes with sheer joy'' New Scientist''Matt Parker is some sort of unholy fusion of a prankster, wizard and brilliant nerd - clever, funny and ever so slightly naughty'' Adam Rutherford, author of Creation''Matt Parker never got the memo about maths being boring ... he seeks to reconnect us to the numbers around us'' Simon Usborne, Independent''Essential reading'' ObserverTrade ReviewAn unusual, in-depth but highly accessible popular-maths book by a member of the London Mathematical Society who also has a sideline in stand-up comedy -- Books of the Year * Economist *Matt Parker is some sort of unholy fusion of a prankster, wizard and brilliant nerd - clever, funny and ever so slightly naughty -- Adam Rutherford, author of CREATIONEssential reading * Observer *Matt Parker is a lovely, funny, big, dork -- Ben GoldacreShows off maths at its most playful and multifarious, ranging from classics like knot theory and ruler-and-compass constructions to more whimsical topics like the topology of beer logos and error-correcting scarves -- Jordan Ellenberg, author of HOW NOT TO BE WRONGThis is the best book on recreational mathematics since Martin Gardner's My Best Mathematical and Logic Puzzles -- Harold D. Shane, Mathematics Emeritus, Baruch Coll., CUNY * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisA mathemagical' colouring book, with 60 patterns to colour and 10 more that YOU create!For those who ponder the most intriguing questions in maths, the realm of numbers is not only visual but also beautiful. What does a sphere look like in four dimensions? How can a knight on a chessboard visit every square? And can a five-sided tile cover an infinite floor? Visions of Numberland unlocks the world's greatest mathematical mysteries, with 60 patterns to colour in and 10 more that you can create from scratch. The friendly explanations next to each pattern unlock the secrets of an intellectual quest that has been underway for three thousand years but no maths knowledge is required. Anyone can be an artist in Numberland!Trade ReviewBeautiful...Alex and Edmund have smuggled in some of the best mathematical stories into this visual feast. By engaging the reader in their visual journey the authors show how mathematics isn't a spectator sport. Maths comes alive when you make it yourself. * Marcus du Sautoy, Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford *This is by far the most entertaining maths book I’ve seen in a long time. Want to show someone what maths is about? Tell them to forget everything they’ve read. Then, hand them this book and a box of 100 crayons, and leave them alone for an hour. There’s no way you’ll get your copy back. Amazing! * Adrian Paenza, bestselling maths author and winner of the International Congress of Mathematicians Leelavati Award *My six-year-old and I are both loving the mathy new coloring book Visions of the Universe * Jordan Ellenberg, PhD, author of How Not to Be Wrong *Delightful, informative, and fun! * Steven Strogatz, author of The Joy of x *I love this new math coloring book! I want the Menger slice as a Christmas ornament. * Manil Suri, University of Maryland professor of maths and bestselling author of The Death of Vishnu *

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Book SynopsisBestselling author and worst-drawing artist Ben Orlin expands his oeuvre with this interactive collection of mathematical games. With 70-plus games, each taking a minute to learn and a lifetime to master, this treasure trove will delight, educate, and entertain.From beloved math popularizer Ben Orlin comes a masterfully compiled collection of dozens of playable mathematical games. This ultimate game chest draws on mathematical curios, childhood classics, and soon-to-be classics, each hand-chosen to be (1) fun, (2) thought-provoking, and (3) easy to play. With just paper, pens, and the occasional handful of coins, you and a partner can enjoy hours of fun-and hours of challenge.Orlin''s sly humor, expansive knowledge, and so-bad-they''re-good drawings show us how simple rules summon our best thinking.Games include:* Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe* Sprouts* Battleship* Quantum Go Fish* Dots and Boxes* Black Hole* Order and Chaos* Sequencium* Paper Boxing* Prophecies* Arpeggios* Banker* Francoprussian Labyrinth* Cats and Dogs* And many more.

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Book SynopsisWhat are the mysterious numbers that unlock the secrets of the universe?In Fantastic Numbers and Where to Find Them, leading theoretical physicist and YouTube star Antonio Padilla takes us on an irreverent cosmic tour of nine of the most extraordinary numbers in physics. These include Graham''s number, which is so large that if you thought about it in the wrong way, your head would collapse into a singularity; TREE(3), whose finite value could never be reached before the universe reset itself; and 10^{-120}, which measures the desperately unlikely balance of energy the universe needs to exist. . .Leading us down the rabbit hole to the inner workings of reality, Padilla demonstrates how these unusual numbers are the key to unlocking such mind-bending phenomena as black holes, entropy and the problem of the cosmological constant, which shows that our two best ways of understanding the universe contradict one another. Combining cutting-edge science with anTrade ReviewAn exceptional compilation of modern mathematics and its real-world applications... A fast-paced and dramatic telling of the history of mathematics that is ultimately concerned with convincing us why we should care... Perusing this book will leave readers with awe, enough fun facts for many cocktail parties, and a deep appreciation for mathematicians like Padilla who can explain how understanding a googolplex leads us to the existence of doppelgängers -- Brianne Kane * Scientific American *An irreverent tour of extraordinary numbers in physics, big, small and bafflingly infinite. Be amazed as physicist and YouTube star Tony Padilla reveals the inner workings of reality * New Scientist *This delightful book purports to be about numbers, but is really a window onto the astonishing scope and scale of the universe in which we live. You will be amazed at the mind-bending ideas science has proposed in order to grasp reality, and be impressed that our minds are able to bend that far -- Sean Carroll, author of SOMETHING DEEPLY HIDDENThis is an extraordinary book. Tony Padilla has been able to weave a remarkable set of mathematical facts into a mesmerising story that kept me gripped throughout. He has an intensity and passion that I haven't seen for a long time in popular science -- Pedro G. Ferreira, author of THE PERFECT THEORYIt was said of the famous Indian mathematician Ramanujan that he knew every number as his personal friend. If you'd like to get to know some of the most charismatic of these characters then Antonio Padilla has written a beautiful Who's Who of the world of numbers and their role in the make-up of our universe -- Marcus du Sautoy, author of THINKING BETTER

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Book Synopsis A fascinating book, from a leading maths educator and demystifier, that shows how maths is relevant to our everyday lives. Have you ever wondered how the meter in a taxi works? Or why a lift takes so long to respond to your call? Is there a mathematical secret to making a hit single? And how long is a piece of string? In this fascinating book you will find the answers to these and many other intriguing questions of everyday life. Discover the astonishing '37% rule' for blind dates, how to avoid the gentleman's urinal, and some extraordinary scams that people have devised to get rich quick. Here you will also find the origins of the seven-day week and the seven-note scale, an explanation of why underdogs sometimes win, some clever techniques for detecting fraud, and the reason why epidemics sweep across a nation and disappear just as quickly. How Long is a Piece of String? is the perfect book for anyone who is curious about the way in which maths underlies so much in our everyday lives. Whatever your mathematical ability level, you will find this book informative, thought-provoking and, most of all, fun. Word count: 35,000

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Book Synopsis''Refreshingly clear and engaging'' Tim Harford''Delightful . . . full of unique insights'' Prof Sir David SpiegelhalterThere''s no getting away from statistics. We encounter them every day. We are all users of statistics whether we like it or not.Do missed appointments really cost the NHS 1bn per year?What''s the difference between the mean gender pay gap and the median gender pay gap?How can we work out if a claim that we use 42 billion single-use plastic straws per year in the UK is accurate?What did the Vote Leave campaign''s 350m bus really mean?How can we tell if the headline ''Public pensions cost you 4,000 a year'' is correct?Does snow really cost the UK economy 1bn per day?But how do we distinguish statistical fact from fiction? What can we do to decide whether a number, claim or news story is accurate? Without an understanding of data, we cannot truly understand what is going on in the woTrade ReviewFascinating . . . timely . . . a lovely humorous undercurrent to it all -- Marcus Berkmann * Daily Mail *A refreshingly clear and engaging guide to the statistical claims all around us * Tim Harford, author of Fifty Things That Made The Modern Economy & Presenter of BBC More or Less *Having spent his journalistic career working in a newsroom, being inundated with press releases full with dodgy statistics, Reuben has learned all the ways in which numbers can tell a misleading story. In this delightful book, full of unique insights from personal experience, he warns us of the phrases to look out for, and all the questions to ask about shabby surveys and dubious economic forecasts - there's also a great chapter on how to interpret big numbers. And he advises that we all ask the big question - is this number reasonably likely to be true? * Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter *Statistics can clarify or confuse. That's why you need to read this book * John Humphrys *

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Book SynopsisQuiz your family at home with crosswords, puzzles and games.The eagerly-awaited sixth book in the bestselling Times Difficult Su Doku series.This is the latest collection of 200 previously unpublished Difficult Su Doku puzzles perfect for the intermediate Su Doku solver in need of a constant supply of challenging puzzles. You are guaranteed hours of absorbing, brain-stretching entertainment.Since the first Su Doku puzzle appeared in The Times in November 2004, they have become a phenomenon, with over 5 million copies of The Times Su Doku books sold worldwide. You don''t need to be a mathematical genius to solve these puzzles; it is simply a question of logic. Each puzzle has a unique solution and there''s no guesswork required.The Times Su Doku remains the original, the best and the market leader.

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesFor those who like to live dangerously and push beyond their mental comfort zone, steel yourself for The Times'' toughest Killer collection yet.Prepare for the extreme mental challenge of 100 Deadly-level Killer puzzles, including, for the first time ever, 20 Extra Deadly, to really test your limits: thjs is the only place you''ll find such a torturous collection in a single book.The Times Ultimate Killer Su Doku is not for the fainthearted. The puzzles use the same 9x9 grid as Su Doku, and have an added mathematical challenge. The aim is not only to complete every row, column and cube so that it contains the digits 1-9, it is also necessary to ensure that the outlined cubes add up to the same number as well.But unlike with previous books, there is no chance to ease yourself in with Easy, or even Tough puzzles: this book is the ultimate Killer Su Doku completely deadly.

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesThese are previously unpublished quality Su Doku grids from the puzzle providers to The Times, and help to develop you to take on Extreme Su Doku.The 200 puzzles in this collection of treacherously difficult puzzles will stretch even the most advanced Su Doku enthusiast. You will need to use all of your best solving techniques to get to the end of this testing challenge.The puzzles in the collection are of the highest quality and are perfect for the advanced solver in need of a constant supply of ultra-difficult puzzles.Guaranteed to provide hours of mind-stretching entertainment.

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesThe latest volume in the hugely popular Killer Su Doku series from the puzzles suppliers to the Times, featuring the highest-quality puzzles with an extra element of arithmetic.This ninth addition to the successful Times Killer Su Doku series will test your skills to the limit, adding the challenge of arithmetic and taking Su Doku to a new and even deadlier level of difficulty.The puzzles use the same 9x9 grid as Su Doku but with an added mathematical challenge. The aim is not only to complete every row, column and cube so that it contains the digits 1-9, it is also necessary to ensure that the outlined cubes add up to the same number as well.With 150 new Moderate, Tough and Deadly Killer Su Doku puzzles, there is no chance to ease yourself in with Easy puzzles. For those who like to live dangerously and pushbeyond their mental comfort zone, steel yourself for The Times'' next, terribly tough instalment.

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesA new collection of previously unpublished Fiendish Su Doku puzzles with the added bonus of 30 Super Fiendish puzzles. Perfect for the advanced solver in need of a constant supply of ultra-difficult puzzles. Guaranteed to provide hours of absorbing, brain-stretching entertainment.The puzzles in this collection are of the highest quality supplied by Sudoku Syndication, the Sudoku suppliers to The Times newspaper.Since the first Su Doku puzzle appeared in The Times in November 2004, they have become a phenomenon, with over 5 million copies of The Times Su Doku books sold worldwide. You don''t need to be a mathematical genius to solve these puzzles; it is simply a question of logic. Each puzzle has a unique solution and there''s no guesswork required.The Times Su Doku remains the original, the best and the market leader.

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Book SynopsisQuiz your family at home with crosswords, puzzles and games.A collection of 200 Difficult Su Doku puzzles of the highest quality from The Times newspaper. Perfect for the intermediate Su Doku solver in need of a constant supply of challenging puzzles, this book is guaranteed to provide hours of absorbing, brain-stretching entertainment.Since the first Su Doku puzzle appeared in The Times in 2004, they have become a phenomenon, with over 5 million copies of The Times Su Doku books sold worldwide. You don''t need to be a mathematical genius to solve these puzzles; it is simply a question of logic. Each puzzle has a unique solution and there''s no guesswork required.The Times Su Doku remains the original, the best and the market leader.Trade Review* Phenomenal sales of Su Doku Books, over 5 million sold worldwide * Strength of The Times brand * The Times books are market leaders

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Book SynopsisFrom triangles, rotations and power laws, to fractals, cones and curves, bestselling author Alex Bellos takes you on a journey of mathematical discovery with his signature wit, engaging stories and limitless enthusiasm. As he narrates a series of eye-opening encounters with lively personalities all over the world, Alex demonstrates how numbers have come to be our friends, are fascinating and extremely accessible, and how they have changed our world. He turns even the dreaded calculus into an easy-to-grasp mathematical exposition, and sifts through over 30,000 survey submissions to reveal the world's favourite number. In Germany, he meets the engineer who designed the first roller-coaster loop, whilst in India he joins the world's highly numerate community at the International Congress of Mathematicians. He explores the wonders behind the Game of Life program, and explains mathematical logic, growth and negative numbers. Stateside, he hangs out with a private detective in Oregon and mTrade ReviewSee, numbers don't have to be scary * Evan Davis *Another sparkling romp through the world of numbers, with the inimitable Alex Bellos as your friendly, informed, and crystal-clear guide. A brilliant successor to Alex in Numberland * Ian Stewart *To read Alex Through the Looking-Glass is to have one’s mind quietly but continually blown with the knowledge that the world, so seemingly complex, is constantly conforming to patterns ... Bright children, bored with the way maths is presented, will find plenty here to jolly up their calculus classes, while those with an in-depth mathematical education may still find new gems * Sunday Express *Alex Bellos brings the quirks and eccentricities of numbers wonderfully to life ... Each chapter has its fair share of intriguing stories, which are always followed by plenty of equations and detailed explanations. In many ways, Bellos’s books remind me of the writing of Martin Gardiner, who was one of the most prolific recreational mathematicians of the 20th century and who died in 2010 * Simon Singh, Observer *The great moments in maths, it seems, are not contemplations of chilly glories, but small, satisfying discoveries, like getting a particularly clever cryptic crossword clue, it is this friendly approach to numbers that makes Bellos so approachable; he has a way of walking the reader through a problem ... If anything, Looking Glass is a better work than Numberland – it feels more immediate, more relevant and fun * Daily Telegraph *Fresh, fascinating and endlessly charming. A splendiferous book altogether * Tim Harford, author of The Undercover Economist Strikes Back *

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Book SynopsisGerd Gigerenzer''s Reckoning with Risk: Learning to Live with Uncertainty illustrates how we can learn to make sense of statistics and turn ignorance into insight. However much we want certainty in our lives, it feels as if we live in an uncertain and dangerous world. But are we guilty of wildly exaggerating the chances of some unwanted event happening to us? Are we misled by our ignorance of the reality of risk? Far too many of us, argues Gerd Gigerenzer, are hampered by our own innumeracy, while statistics are often presented to us in highly confusing ways. With real world examples, such as the incidence of errors in tests for breast cancer or HIV, or in DNA fingerprinting, and the manipulation of statistics for evidence in court, he shows that our difficulty in thinking about numbers can easily be overcome. ''Indispensable ... The book will change the attentive reader''s way of looking at the world''  Sunday TelegraphTrade Review"This is an important book, full of relevant examples and worrying case histories. By the end of it, the reader has been presented with a powerful set of tools for understanding statistics...anyone who wants to take responsibly for their own medical choices should read it" - New ScientistTable of ContentsPart I Dare to know: uncertainty; the illusion of certainty; innumeracy; insight. Part II Understanding uncertainties in the real world: breast cancer screening; (un)informed consent; AIDS counselling; wife battering; experts on trial; DNA fingerprinting; violent people. Part III From innumeracy to insight: how innumeracy can be exploited; fun problems; teaching clear thinking.

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Book SynopsisTest your powers of logic with these fun Su Doku puzzles.Su Doku is the classic number puzzle.The Times Su Doku Book 14 contains a mix of 150 mind-bending variations, ranging from mercifully Mild to the uber-challenging Super fiendish:10 Mild puzzles60 Difficult puzzles50 Fiendish puzzles30 Super fiendishThis latest edition offers completely new and unpublished puzzles, provided by the puzzle suppliers to The Times, and are of the highest quality.So sharpen your wits and prepare to get solving the only question is: can you make it to the end?

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesThis is the seventh title in the Fiendish series the latest volume of quality previously unpublished puzzles from the puzzle providers to the Times.You don't need to be a mathematical genius to solve the puzzles in this collection of Fiendishly difficult puzzles, it is simply a question of logic.Since the first Su Doku puzzle appeared in The Times in November 2004 they have become a phenomenon, with over 5 million copies of the Times Su Doku series sold worldwide.The puzzles in the collection are of the highest quality from the puzzle suppliers to The Times. Perfect for the advanced solver in need of a constant supply of ultra-difficult puzzles, and guaranteed to provide hours of mind-stretching entertainment.

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Book SynopsisShorter and more light-hearted than his theoretical academic works, Mathematics is the Poetry of Science represents Villani's attempt to communicate his love of mathematics to a wider audience, and is an interesting contribution from one of the world's finest living mathematicians.Trade ReviewA remarkable exploration of creativity and aesthetic sensitivity in mathematics, and I would wholly recommend it to anyone who wants to appreciate why it will continue to inspire and fascinate all of its devotees. * GERRY LEVERSHA, The Mathematical Gazette *Table of Contents0: Elisa Brune: Foreword 1: Mathematics, Science, and Poetry 2: Constraints and Creativity 3: Inspiration 4: Making Connections 5: A Portable Universe 6: The Form of Words 7: Visionaries 8: Poincaré and the Omnibus 9: Ping-Pong 10: Ode to Imperfection 11: Appendix: Henri Poincaré on Mathematical Discovery

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2019A magisterial history of calculus (and the people behind it) from one of the world's foremost mathematicians.This is the captivating story of mathematics' greatest ever idea: calculus. Without it, there would be no computers, no microwave ovens, no GPS, and no space travel. But before it gave modern man almost infinite powers, calculus was behind centuries of controversy, competition, and even death. Taking us on a thrilling journey through three millennia, professor Steven Strogatz charts the development of this seminal achievement from the days of Archimedes to today's breakthroughs in chaos theory and artificial intelligence. Filled with idiosyncratic characters from Pythagoras to Fourier, Infinite Powers is a compelling human drama that reveals the legacy of calculus on nearly every aspect of modern civilisation, including science, politics, medicine, philosophy, and much besides.Trade ReviewWarning: this book is dangerous. It will make you love mathematics. Even more, there is a nonzero risk it will turn you into a mathematician. * Nassim Nicholas Taleb, bestselling author of The Black Swan *Fascinating reading. * Scientific American *Eloquent, erudite and charming. A remarkable story. Strogatz is a world class mathematician and a world class science writer. With a light touch and razor-sharp clarity, he tells the remarkable story of a mathematical breakthrough that changed the world - and continues to do so. * Alex Bellos, bestselling author of Alex's Adventures in Numberland *Glorious! A master class in accessible maths writing and a perfect read for anyone who feels like they never quite understood what all the fuss was about. It had me leaping for joy. * Hannah Fry, bestselling author of Hello World and presenter of BBC R4’s The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry *Simple, lucid, amusing, informative, and a pleasure to read. If you want to know where calculus came from, how it works, what it's good for, and where it's going next, this is the book for you. * Professor Ian Stewart, author of Significant Figures *A fine, thoughtful attempt to make the greatest stories relating to calculus accessible... After reading Infinite Powers, we should no longer fear calculus. * Literary Review *The most fascinating book I have ever read. If you have even the slightest curiosity about maths and its role in this world, I implore you to read this amazing book. * Jo Boaler, professor of mathematics education, Stanford University *A wide-ranging, humane, thoroughly readable take on one of the greatest ideas our species has ever produced. * Jordan Ellenberg, author of How Not to Be Wrong *Fascinating anecdotes abound in Infinite Powers... [Strogatz] has written a romp through the history of calculus. * Nature *A tour de force. Elegant and ebullient. Strogatz speaks to everyone, reminding us why mathematics matters in a practical sense while all the time highlighting its beauty. * Lisa Randall, Professor of Physics at Harvard University and author of Dark Matter and The Dinosaurs *A highly readable account of calculus and its modern applications - all done with the human touch. * Dr David Acheson, Emeritus Fellow, Oxford University and author of The Calculus Story *An incalculable pleasure. If calculus is the language of the universe, then Steven Strogatz is its Homer. * Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness *In this engaging book, Steven Strogatz illuminates the importance of calculus and explains its mysteries as only he can. * Sean Carroll, author of The Particle at the End of the Universe *Table of Contents1: Infinity 2: The Man Who Harnessed Infinity 3: Discovering the Laws of Motion 4: The Dawn of Differential Calculus 5: The Crossroads 6: The Vocabulary of Change 7: The Secret Fountain 8: Fictions of the Mind 9: The Logical Universe 10: Making Waves 11: The Future of Calculus

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Book SynopsisWhat is 4% of 75?Can you calculate 60 + 60 x 0 + 1?Which is bigger, an 18-inch pizza or two 12-inch pizzas?Join award-winning maths presenter Kyle D Evans on an entertaining tour of viral maths problems that have gone wild on social media in recent years. From the infamous 'Hannah's sweets' exam question to percentages 'life-hacks', viral maths problems seem to capture the public's imagination without fail. In Maths Tricks to Blow Your Mind, Kyle presents over 50 viral maths problems with background information, explanations and solutions to similar problems, all in a humorous, accessible and inclusive manner. Want to dazzle and delight your friends and family? This book shows you how!Trade ReviewA chirpy guide to the most shared maths nuggets on the internet. -- Alex Bellos, author of ALEX'S ADVENTURES IN NUMBERLANDA cornucopia of numerical tricks and other quirky delights. I loved it. -- Tim Harford, author of HOW TO MAKE THE WORLD ADD UPWith wit and wisdom, Kyle Evans has compiled what is - literally - the most popular maths on the planet. And he's brought new insights and back stories to many old favourites. -- Rob Eastaway, author of MATHS ON THE BACK OF AN ENVELOPETable of Contentsi: Introduction 1: THIS ONE COOL MATHS TRICK WILL BLOW YOUR MIND: Maths tricks and 'life hacks' 2: IT WAS DIFFERENT IN MY DAY: Pre-internet viral maths 3: BACK TO SCHOOL: Viral exam questions and classroom conundrums 4: OUT OF ORDER: The trouble with BODMAS 5: BAD MATHS: When Facebook meets algebra 6: GET INTO SHAPE: Genius geometry problems vii: CONCLUSION: A better viral maths future? viii: Solutions

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Book SynopsisWhat is a mathematical function? Why are they so important? How does plotting the graph of a function help us understand it? And where do gradients, differentials and calculus fit in? In this unique little book, packed with equations and their graphs, mathematics teacher Oliver Linton reveals the secrets of polynomial functions, polar functions, inverse functions, complex functions, vector functions and many more. Lines will never look the same again!Trade ReviewWooden Books are: "Fascinating" FINANCIAL TIMES. "Beautiful" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Rich and Artful" THE LANCET. "Genuinely mind-expanding" FORTEAN TIMES. "Excellent" NEW SCIENTIST. "Stunning" NEW YORK TIMES. Small books, big ideas.

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Book SynopsisThe biography of a mathematical genius. Paul Erdos was the most prolific pure mathematician in history and, arguably, the strangest too. ’A mathematical genius of the first order, Paul Erdos was totally obsessed with his subject – he thought and wrote mathematics for nineteen hours a day until he died. He travelled constantly, living out of a plastic bag and had no interest in food, sex, companionship, art – all that is usually indispensible to a human life. Paul Hoffman, in this marvellous biography, gives us a vivid and strangely moving portrait of this singular creature, one that brings out not only Erdos’s genius and his oddness, but his warmth and sense of fun, the joyfulness of his strange life.’ Oliver Sacks For six decades Erdos had no job, no hobbies, no wife, no home; he never learnt to cook, do laundry, drive a car and died a virgin. Instead he travelled the world with his mother in tow, arriving at the doorstep of esteemed mathematicians declaring ‘My brain is open’. He travelled until his death at 83, racing across four continents to prove as many theorems as possible, fuelled by a diet of espresso and amphetamines. With more than 1,500 papers written or co-written, a daily routine of 19 hours of mathematics a day, seven days a week, Paul Erdos was one of the most extraordinary thinkers of our times.Trade Review"Hoffman's playful, plainspoken and often hilarious biography of a monkish, impish, generous genius is purest pleasure." Mail on Sunday "Paul Hoffman's wittily articulated life of the mathematical genius Paul Erdos opens a door to a sunlit upland of pure logic, populated by bungee-bouncing, bearded maniacs and absurdly intelligent men who never learnt to tie their own shoelaces...Anyone with an interest in the science of numbers should read this." Observer "The Man Who Loved Only Numbers is one of the most accessible and engaging introductions to the world of pure mathematics you are ever likely to come across." Graham Farmelo, Sunday Telegraph "A wonderful, playful, insightful life of this century's most unusual mathematician." Ian Stewart, Independent

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Book SynopsisQuiz your family at home with crosswords, puzzles and games. Su Doku is the classic number puzzle.

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