Popular and recreational mathematics Books

Book SynopsisThis is the book that Daniel Tammet, bestselling author and mathematical savant, was born to write. In Tammet''s world, numbers are beautiful and mathematics illuminates our lives and minds. Using anecdotes and everyday examples, Tammet allows us to share his unique insights and delight in the way numbers, fractions and equations underpin all our lives.Inspired by the complexity of snowflakes, Anne Boleyn''s sixth finger or his mother''s unpredictable behaviour, Tammet explores questions such as why time seems to speed up as we age, whether there is such a thing as an average person and how we can make sense of those we love.Thinking in Numbers will change the way you think about maths and fire your imagination to see the world with fresh eyes.Trade ReviewThinking in Numbers is unprecedented: a pitch-perfect duet between mathematics and literature ... Mathematics, Tammet says, is illimitable. It is a language through which the human imagination expresses itself. Presumably this means mathematics has, or deserves, a literature. In Tammet, it already has a laureate. * New Scientist *A collection of essays on subjects as diverse as Shakespeare and Tolstoy, a rumination on snow and another on chess, as well as a fantastically nuanced piece about his mother. It is a collection which showcases Tammet's extraordinary talent . . . a writer of unique capabilities. * Scotsman Magazine *An interesting and often beautiful approach: Tammet writes well... and his love of numbers shines from the page... Tammet's discussion of big numbers is fascinating. * Daily Telegraph *Tammet's choice of subjects is personal, and wonderfully eclectic... What lifts Tammet's entertaining collection above the ordinary are the often surprising links that he sees, explores and explains. * Sunday Telegraph *Explores the 'what if' of maths and links it with literature and life. He is an exhilarating thinker, an exciting writer, and looks at the world with an eclectic, quizzical eye. * Saga magazine *Tammet is an accomplished writer with a prose style akin to a warm embrace... scintillating ... enlightens and entertains in (approximately) equal measure. * Daily Express *When he talks about his own extreme skills, such as his feat of pi memorisation, the book comes alive. * BBC Focus *Daniel Tammet's unique take on the world will prove that life - not just classroom maths - is more than just a numbers game. * Gay Times *As fluid with words as with numbers, his essays are artfully constructed: intriguing openings to entice us; interesting snippets of history; accessible but unpatronising tones; neat endings. * Independent *In Tammet's mind, literature, art and maths are united. For him, maths' real-life applications are not merely tax returns and restaurant bills, but the storytelling of an infinite subject and the reasoning behind our daily existence. * The Huffington Post *Thinking in Numbers is a mind-expanding, kinetic aesthetic experience. My mind shot off the page, spurred to see universal patterns very much alive in everything from the natural world we share to how imagery and metaphor occur in my own creative process. Tammet's poetic mathematics are beautiful guideposts for thinking about life and even love. As I read, I found myself saying, 'Yes, this is true, and this is true, and this is so true...' * Amy Tan *Always informative, always entertaining, Daniel Tammet never loses his respect for the mystery of the universe of number. * JM Coetzee *Born on a Blue Day introduced us to the extraordinary phenomenon of Daniel Tammet, and Thinking in Numbers enlarges one's wonder at Tammet's mind and his all-embracing vision of the world as grounded in numbers. * Oliver Sacks, MD *His aim with Thinking in Numbers is to show that mathematics can be as rich, inspiring and human as literature - and to "bruise" the line between fiction and non-fiction... he succeeds magnificently. * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisStrange happenstances and chance encounters have puzzled us for centuries. This fun and fascinating book takes readers on a journey through the mathematics behind coincidences both famous and never-before-examined. From peculiar patterns in geometry and calculus to the famous Waring Problem, and other astonishing numerical curiosities, The Call of Coincidence begins by examining the mathematical properties that underpin everything there is. Next, author Owen O’Shea – along with fictional guides Charlie Chance and the enigmatic Dr. Moogle – reveals surprising connections and correlations throughout history, including numerical coincidences behind the reign of King Richard III, the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, the 1996 FIFA World Cup, and much, much more. By investigating the properties, puzzles, and problems within, you will gain a newfound appreciation for the beautiful simplicity of mathematics in its many forms. Featuring surprising trivia gems alongside serious questions like why there is something rather than nothing, readers will be enriched by this exploration of remarkable number coincidences and the mathematics that make them possible – and probable.

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Book SynopsisTaking a quirky and insightful look at the world of numbers, As Easy As Pi will delight and entertain any number enthusiast.In this day and age it's hard to imagine a world without numbers. Our lives are centred around commerce and money, and it is the only language that's the same the world over. However, did you know that for a long period of time people could not get their heads around the idea of zero, a figure representing nothing, and that it was even regarded as heretical in some circles? As Easy As Pi is an entertaining and accessible guide, written for those who love numbers – and those who don't – and uncovers a great deal of lore and intriguing information. Including:- Snippets of fascinating numerical facts - Myths and mysticism in the world of numbers- Numbers in language and used as slang- Pop culture trivia - Useful mathematical rules to rememberTrade ReviewFascinating... as much for those who hated maths at school as it is for those who love numbers * The Lady *A fab gift for anyone who loves facts and figures about numbers. It'll keep anoraks like me amused for hours. I loved it! * Now *A hotchpotch of facts about numbers.. interesting in the Stephen Fry style * Irish Examiner *An entertaining and accessible introduction to the world of numbers... offers a selection of offbeat information to delight any enthusiast of the subject * Waterstones Books Quarterly *Buchan explores [numbers'] inescapable influence in everything... Astonishingly comprehensive for its size, this little book is wonderfully addictive * The Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisHow do you predict something that has never happened before? There's a useful calculation being employed by Wall Street, Silicon Valley and maths professors all over the world, and it predicts that the human species will become extinct in 760 years. Unfortunately, there is disagreement over how to apply the formula, and some argue that we might only have twenty years left. Originally devised by British clergyman Thomas Bayes, the theorem languished in obscurity for two hundred years before being resurrected as the lynchpin of the digital economy. With brief detours into archaeology, philology, and overdue library books, William Poundstone explains how we can use it to predict pretty much anything. What is the chance that there are multiple universes? How long will Hamilton run? Will the US stock market continue to perform as well this century as it has for the last hundred years? And are we really all doomed?Trade Review‘Thoroughly entertaining reading and it’s not hard to foresee a future in which readers everywhere will find it impossible to put down.’ * E&T Magazine *‘a fun and energetic romp through a mishmash of philosophical and cosmological ideas… an engagingly written foray.’ * The Inquisitive Biologist *‘A fascinating sweep through so many interesting and important insights into how we can understand our future, masterfully knitted together.’ -- Bobby Duffy, author of The Perils of Perception‘One of the best science writers of our time has taken on one of the most interesting and important subjects of all time – how to predict the future under great uncertainty… A gripping read.’ -- Michael Shermer, author of Heavens on Earth‘A very interesting and definitive book on this subject.’ -- J. Richard Gott, astrophysicist and author of The Cosmic Web

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Book SynopsisDo you want to learn about the most beautiful concept ever invented by humankind? In this book, best-selling author and mathematician Haim Shapira will inspire you with his humorous and engaging exploration of infinity.Written in clear, simple language and aimed at a lay audience, this book also offers some strategies that will allow readers to try their ability at solving truly fascinating mathematical problems. Infinity is a deeply counter-intuitive concept that has inspired many great thinkers. In this book we will meet many sages, both familiar and unfamiliar: Zeno and Pythagoras, Georg Cantor and Bertrand Russell, Sofia Kovalevskaya and Emmy Noether, al-Khwarizmi and Euclid, Sophie Germain and Srinivasa Ramanujan. The world of infinity is inhabited by many paradoxes, and so is this book: Zeno paradoxes, Hilbert's "Infinity Hotel", Achilles and the gods paradox, the paradox of heaven and hell, the Ross-Littlewood paradox involving tennis balls, the Galileo paradox and many more.Aimed at the curious but non-technical reader, this book refrains from using any fearsome mathematical symbols. It uses only the most basic operations of mathematics: adding, subtracting, multiplication, division, powers and roots - that is all. But that doesn't mean that a bit of deep thinking won't be necessary and rewarding. Writing with humour and lightness of touch, Haim Shapira banishes the chalky pallor of the schoolroom and offers instead a truly thrilling intellectual journey.Fasten your seatbelt - we are going to Infinity, and beyond!

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Book SynopsisInstant Mathematics pulls together all the pivotal mathematical theories and discoveries into one concise volume. Each page contains a discrete 'cheat sheet', which tells you the most important facts in bite-sized chunks, meaning you can become an expert in an instant. From zero to the Riemann Hypothesis, from primes to irrational numbers, and from Pythagoras to John Nash and Roger Penrose, every key figure, theory or term is expressed in succinct and lively text and graphics. Perfect for the knowledge hungry and time poor, this collection of graphic-led lessons makes mathematics interesting and accessible. Everything you need to know – and more – is here.Table of ContentsZero • One • Natural numbers • Geometry • Pythagoras • Euclid • Euclidian space • Thales of Miletus • Al-Khwarizmi • Fractions • Functions • Squares and roots • Pi • Sine • Cosine • Tangent • Trigonometry • Infinity • Imaginary numbers • Curves • Topology • Dimensions • Fractals • Primes • Rational numbers • Irrational numbers • Algebra • Abstract algebra • Sets • Cantor sets • Blaise Pascal • Countable sets • Power sets • Vectors • Sophie Germain • Graphs • Dense sets • Mandelbrot sets • Derivatives • Fibonacci sequence • Emmy Noether • Gödel's incompleteness theorem • Fermat's last theorem • Mobius strip • Hilbert's Infinity Hotel • Julia set • John Nash • Riemann hypothesis • Golden ratio • Michael Atiyah • Andrew Wiles • Roger Penrose.

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Book Synopsis'Lucid and entertaining. With barely an equation in sight, Numbercrunch makes a passionate case for how just a little bit more numeracy could help us all' - Tom Whipple, The Times'The perfect introduction to the power of mathematics - fluent, friendly and practical' - Tim Harford, bestselling author of How to Make the World Add UpIn our hyper-modern world, we are bombarded with more facts, stats and information than ever before. So, what can we grasp hold of to make sense of it all? Oliver Johnson reveals how mathematical thinking can help us understand the myriad data all around us. From the exponential growth of viruses to social media filter-bubbles; from share-price fluctuations to growth of computing power; from the datafication of our sports pages to quantifying climate change. Not to mention the things much closer to home: ever wondered when the best time is to leave a party? What are the chances of rain ruining your barbecue this weekend? How about which queue is the best to join in the supermarket?Journeying through the three sections of Randomness, Structure, and Information, we meet a host of brilliant minds such Alan Turing, Enrico Fermi and Claude Shannon, and we learn the tools, tips and tricks to cut through the noise all around us - from the Law of Large Numbers to Entropy to Brownian Motion. Lucid, surprising, and endlessly entertaining, Numbercrunch equips you with a definitive mathematician's toolkit to make sense of your world.Trade ReviewThe perfect introduction to the power of mathematics - fluent, friendly and practical. * Tim Harford, author of 'How to Make the World Add Up' *A clear, straightforward, informative guide to understanding numbers. I wish I'd read it years ago. * Tom Chivers, author of 'How to Read Numbers' *An excellent, straightforward introduction to usefulness of numbers, which gets to the heart of why maths is so important to all of us. * David Sumpter, author of 'The Ten Equations that Rule the World' *A fine and valuable read. Johnson applies careful analysis and great common sense to an extraordinary range of applications of mathematical ideas, from football to filter bubbles - explaining formal ideas with minimum technicalities, and weighing their relevance to the real world. * David Spiegelhalter, author of 'The Art of Statistics' *Lucid and entertaining. With barely an equation in sight, Numbercrunch makes a passionate case for how just a little bit more numeracy could help us all. * Tom Whipple, Science Editor, 'The Times' *Numbers don't lie but they often speak a foreign language. Professor Oliver Johnson is a superb maths-whisperer on a mission to arm his readers with the tools to distinguish sound claims from the many phoney ones that bombard us every day. Numbercrunch is an invaluable addition to the modern baloney-detection kit. * Ananyo Bhattacharya, author of 'The Man from the Future' *

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Book Synopsis'Lucid and entertaining. With barely an equation in sight, Numbercrunch makes a passionate case for how just a little bit more numeracy could help us all' - Tom Whipple, The Times'The perfect introduction to the power of mathematics - fluent, friendly and practical' - Tim Harford, bestselling author of How to Make the World Add UpIn our hyper-modern world, we are bombarded with more facts, stats and information than ever before. So, what can we grasp hold of to make sense of it all? Oliver Johnson reveals how mathematical thinking can help us understand the myriad data all around us. From the exponential growth of viruses to social media filter-bubbles; from share-price fluctuations to growth of computing power; from the datafication of our sports pages to quantifying climate change. Not to mention the things much closer to home: ever wondered when the best time is to leave a party? What are th

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Book Synopsis***A Strong Words 2023 Book of the Year***'A highly enjoyable and serendipitous read!' - Rob Eastaway, bestselling co-author of Headscratchers: The New Scientist Puzzle BookDid you know:-Only around 100 people have ever lived beyond a million hours (that's about 114 years)-Around 7% of everyone who has ever lived is currently alive-The '12 days of Christmas' song, when sung in full, results in 364 gifts being given - one for every day... except ChristmasBroken down into 12 chapters that correspond roughly to months of the year - from going 'back to school' with arithmetic and times tables through prime numbers and all the way to the 12 Days of Chris-maths, this book features a collection of 365 fascinating numerical 'nuggets', accompanied by clear, bite-size explanations of the mathematics that underpin them.Trade ReviewKyle Evans has come up with the perfect format for a dip-in maths book, and has packed an impressive range of engaging maths ideas between the covers. A highly enjoyable and serendipitous read! -- Rob Eastaway, co-author of HEADSCRATCHERS: THE NEW SCIENTIST PUZZLE BOOKA day-by-day calendar with at least one piece of mathemtical trivia per day. [...] an abundance of curious fact, including (on Jan 10) the perils of pitting your intelligence against a scratch card. * Strong Words *Table of Contentsi: Introduction 1: January: Building Blocks 2: February: About Time 3: March: Power Up 4: April: Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger 5: May: Measure for Measure 6: June: Going for Gold 7: July: Prime Time 8: August: 'e'asy as Pi 9: September: When Will I Use This in the Real World? 10: October: That's Entertainment! 11: November: The Chapter that Goes On and On . . . 12: December: The 31 Days of Christmaths ii: Afterword iii: Further Notes iv: Glossary v: Picture Credits vi: Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisFeaturing strategies for solving the puzzles and computations illustrated using the SAGE open-source computer algebra system, the second edition of Adventures in Group Theory is perfect for mathematics enthusiasts and for use as a supplementary textbook.Trade Review"Adventures in Group Theory is a tour through the algebra of several 'permutation puzzles'... If you like puzzles, this is a somewhat fun book. If you like algebra, this is a fun book. If you like puzzles and algebra, this is a really fun book." - MAA Online "Joyner has collated all the Rubik lore and integrated it with a self-contained introduction to group theory that equals or, more likely, exceeds what is available in typical dedicated elementary texts." - Choice "Joyner does convey some of the excitement and adventure in picking up knowledge of group theory by trying to understand Rubik's Cube. Enthusiastic students will learn a lot of mathematics from this book." - American Scientist"Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsWhere to Begin...1. Elementary, my dear Watson2. 'And you do addition?'3. Bell ringing and other permutations4. A procession of permutation puzzles5. What's commutative and purple?6. Welcome to the machine7. 'God's algorithm' and graphs8. Symmetry and the Platonic solids9. The illegal cube group10. Words which move11. The (legal) Rubik's Cube group12. Squares, two-faces, and other subgroups13. Other Rubik-like puzzle groups14. Crossing the Rubicon15. Some solution strategies16. Coda: Questions and other directionsBibliographyIndex

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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 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 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 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 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 puzzlesBeware: The Times Killer Su Doku gets about as close as possible to the label unputdownable'. In Book 2, the challenge continues with the emphasis on the tougher and more deadly puzzles. Prepare to be rattled.Killer Su Doku takes the number placing puzzle to the next level by adding an element of arithmetic. One cannot rely on logic alone. The puzzle uses the same 9x9 grid but there is a double test. The aim is not only to complete every row, column and cube so that it contains the digits 1-9, the numbers within a second dotted-line grid have to add up to a specific total.Included are some Gentle and Moderate puzzles to serve as a warm-up but the emphasis is on the Tricky, Tough and Deadly levels. The word ''fiendish'' doesn''t even come close!

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesThe newest 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 eigth 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 SynopsisJohn Allen Paulos is professor of mathematics at Temple University in Philadelphia. He is author of several books, including the bestseller Innumeracy which was a New York Times bestseller for 18 weeks and A Mathematician Plays the Market. He has appeared on many television and radio shows in the United States and has contributed articles to the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and the London Review of Books. In 2003, Paulos won the American Association for the Advancement of Science award for promoting public understanding of science.Trade ReviewMathematics is all around you. And it's a great defence against the sharks, cowboys and liars who want your vote, your money, or your life - as Paulos's latest book makes crystal clear * Ian Stewart, author of Does God Play Dice? *

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Book SynopsisAs a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical statistics and public health data have become staples of newsfeeds worldwide, with infection rates, deaths, case fatality and the mysterious R figure featuring regularly. However, we don''t all have the statistical background needed to translate this information into knowledge. In this lively account, Stephen Senn explains these statistical phenomena and demonstrates how statistics is essential to making rational decisions about medical care. The second edition has been thoroughly updated to cover developments of the last two decades and includes a new chapter on medical statistical challenges of COVID-19, along with additional material on infectious disease modelling and representation of women in clinical trials. Senn entertains with anecdotes, puzzles and paradoxes, while tackling big themes including: clinical trials and the development of medicines, life tables, vaccines and their risks or lack of them, smoking and lung cancer, and even the power of prayer.Trade Review'The COVID pandemic has shown the power of statistics to save millions of lives by revealing 'what works'. Yet statistical methods have a deeply controversial history, and provoke sometimes bitter debate to this day. Professor Stephen Senn is renowned for his brilliant insights on the subject, and in Dicing with Death he offers us a series of fascinating journeys through its vast and varied landscape.' Robert Matthews, Visiting Professor Aston University and author of Chancing It: The Laws of Chance and How They Can Work for YouTable of Contents1. Circling the square; 2. The diceman cometh; 3. Trials of life; 4. Of dice and men; 5. Sex and the single patient; 6. A hale view of pills (and other matters); 7. Time's tables; 8. A dip in the pool; 9. The things that bug us; 10. The law is a ass; 11. The empire of the sum; 12. Going viral; Notes; Index.

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Book SynopsisWe all use numbers every day, yet many people are uncomfortable with them, finding them daunting and difficult. Others treat numbers as a practical tool they can handle quite well, while failing to appreciate their most amazing qualities.This book is the antidote to number-phobia. As with learning to swim, youʼll never look back: these are skills youʼll use for the rest of your life. If you think youʼre good with numbers already, youʼll soon discover what youʼve been missing: the endless fascination and beauty of numbers, and – at the more practical level – a whole range of techniques and shortcuts you never knew existed.Mastering Numbers brings the subject to life, replacing the atmosphere of the classroom with the wonder of the magicianʼs workshop. In learning to enjoy numbers, we discover a multitude of practical skills – everything from understanding statistics and the odds gamblers face to the interest rates on savings and ways to maximise your returns. Never again need you flounder in a business meeting or an encounter with your bank manager – and if the chance arises to chat to him more casually, you could impress with stories about pi, prime numbers, Fermatʼs theorem, and much else besides.Full of enjoyable exercises, puzzles, demonstrations and self-testing interludes, this is a book to instruct and give pleasure.

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

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Book Synopsis200 of the original number-placing puzzles.

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Book SynopsisQuiz your family at home with crosswords, puzzles and games. The eighth instalment of the best-selling Times Su Doku series to feed the nation’s desire for yet more Su Doku puzzles.

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Book SynopsisQuiz your family at home with crosswords, puzzles and games. This ninth instalment of the best-selling Times Su Doku series to feed the nation's desire for yet more Su Doku puzzles.

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Book SynopsisQuiz your family at home with crosswords, puzzles and games.The eleventh instalment of the bestselling Times Su Doku series.Su Doku is the biggest craze to hit The Times since the first crossword was published in 1930. From obscure origins, the wordless puzzle is now the hottest challenge to readers of The Times and has generated huge interest.The Times Su Doku Book 10 contains 150 mind-bending variations ranging from mercifully Mild to the uber-challenging Super fiendish:10 Mild puzzles60 Difficult puzzles50 Fiendish puzzles30 Super fiendishThe Times continue to offer superior Su Doku puzzles from their suppliers, Puzzler Media Syndication, that will put your logic to the ultimate test.The Times continue to offer superior Su Doku puzzles from their suppliers, Sudoku Syndication, that will put your logic to the ultimate test.

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Book SynopsisAn all-in-one compendium of easy techniques for all kinds of calculations, from personal finance to home improvement.

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Book SynopsisCan you outrun a bullet? How do you build an electronic brain? Could you slow down time? How do you unleash chaos? From Plato''s classification of regular polyhedra to making a million on the stock market, How to Solve the Da Vinci Code gives you everything you need to understand how numbers work, and the impact they have on our lives every day.Trade Review'Here is a brilliantly conceived book on the history, working and going-ons of mathematics ... Go out and get a copy for yourself today and become the maths boffin your teacher always wished you were!' Vision Magazine. * Vision Magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction. How to solve every equation there has ever been. How to become a celebrity mathematician. How to square a circle. How to win the ultimate mathematics prize. How to slay a mathematical monster. How to excel at Sudoku. How to unleash chaos. How to survive a whirlpool. How to make a million on the stock market. How to outrun a speeding bullet. How to solve the Da Vinci code. How to admire a mathematical masterpiece. How to count like a supercomputer. How to visit a hundred cities in one day. How to arrange the perfect dinner party. How to paint the world in four colours. How to be alive and dead at the same time. How to draw an impossible triangle. How to unknot your DNA. How to find all the holes in the universe. How to feel at home in five dimensions. How to design the perfect pattern. How to build the perfect beehive. How to count to infinity. How to build a brain. How to bring down the internet. How to ask an unanswerable question. How to detect fraud. How to create an unbreakable code. How to avoid prison. How to mislead a jury. How to slow time. How to win at roulette. How to have beautiful children. How to talk to a computer. Glossary. Index.

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Book SynopsisSet in the context of a new field of engineering, driven apace by conflict, this fascinating history follows the mathematicians and scientists who learnt to fly in order to expand our understanding of aeronautics. Tony Royle makes accessible the mathematics and the personal stories that forever changed the course of aviation.Trade Review"The Flying Mathematicians of World War I is an entertaining and inspiring read that communicates the power of mathematics, along with the romance and personal adventure of flying. The teaching of both engineering and history needs narratives like this one to give students a sense of the value of individual intellectual curiosity and direct experience." Sean F. Johnston, University of Glasgow and author of Techno-Fixers: Origins and Implications of Technological Faith"This book challenges our image of the swaggering warrior-turned-test-pilot who possessed the "right stuff" at the dawn of the supersonic era. Instead we meet an earlier and entirely different breed – the mathematicians, engineers, and scientists of Great Britain during World War I, many of whom learned to fly (some losing their lives) so they could better understand and test the aircraft they were responsible for designing. Thoroughly researched and thoughtfully analysed, written by an experienced pilot, this book is accessible to anyone interested in aviation history." Alan D. Meyer, Auburn University and author of Weekend Pilots: Technology, Masculinity, and Private Aviation in Postwar America

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Book SynopsisHow heavy is that cloud? Why can you see farther in rain than in fog? Why are the droplets on that spider web spaced apart so evenly? This book presents ninety-six questions about many common natural phenomena - and a few uncommon ones - and then shows how to answer them using mostly basic mathematics.Trade Review"[A] snappy guide to the mathematics of the outdoors... A sharp eye and an ingenious mind are at work on every page... Read this book with pencil and paper in hand. Then go forth, enjoy the view, and impress your friends."--Laurence A. Marschall, Natural History "Mathematics professor John Adam has come up with a novel combination. This book will provide anyone with a solid grounding in mathematics with enough conversation starters to keep fellow walkers' brains working as hard as their legs."--Dominic Lenton, Engineering & Technology "A catalogue of playful inquiries and their mathematical solutions."--Conservation Magazine "Adam has written a terrific book that takes his earlier work a step further... [T]his is a well written guide not only to seeing our world with simplified and useful models and mathematics, but to asking good questions of what we see and then answering those questions on our own. I found the book delightful, engaging, and interesting. It's written for anyone with a calculus background, and that's all one needs. If you're looking for a fun book with a touch of complexity, this is a good one."--David S. Mazel, MAA Reviews "For teachers who are interested in seeing how what they teach might be used or for students or parents who might be interested in seeing how mathematics might be used, this is an intriguing book."--Mathematics Teacher "[A]dam's love of both nature and mathematics is obvious, and his chatty style and sense of humour--look out for the question about spontaneously combusting haystacks--enliven a book that will get readers thinking as well as itching for a pleasant stroll."--Physics World "Indeed, Adam has deliberately reworked topics treated in Mathematics in Nature to make them accessible to a larger audience. Beyond insights into specific questions about nature, the general reader will find here a remarkably lucid explanation of how mathematicians create a formulaic model that mimics the key features of some natural phenomenon. Adam particularly highlights the importance in this process of solving inverse problems. Ordinary math becomes adventure."--Booklist "If you are a walker, as I am, your daypack probably contains sunscreen, a poncho, a floppy hat, and a pair of binoculars. After reading this snappy guide to the mathematics of the outdoors, by John Adam, a professor of mathematics at Old Dominion University in Virginia, you might consider tossing in a programmable calculator... A sharp eye and an ingenious mind are at work on every page... Read this book with pencil and paper in hand. Then go forth, enjoy the view, and impress your friends."--Natural History "There are now few (if any) areas of science where mathematics does not play a role and, by extension, many of the sights and sounds of nature can be studied using mathematics. This is the motivation behind A Mathematical Nature Walk by John Adam, which considers some of the natural phenomena that might be encountered on a walk in the countryside (or even just a wander around one's own garden)."--Sarah Shepherd, iSquared "[S]urprising and entertaining... Adam's book is lucidly written, making it suitable for people of all ages."--Good Book Guide "The dedicated reader stands a lot to gain from delving into the text and thinking hard about the problems posed. As the saying goes, 'mathematics is not a spectator sport,' so if this book is read with pencil and paper at hand, to scribble along and confirm understanding of the mathematical trains of thought--all the better."--Philip McIntosh, Suite101.comTable of ContentsPreface xv Acknowledgments xix Introduction 1 AT THE BEGINNING ... 11 (General questions to challenge our powers of observation, estimation, and physical intuition) Q.1-Q.6: Rainbows 11 Q.7: Shadows 11 Q.8-9: Clouds and cloud droplets 12 Q.10: Light 12 Q.11: Sound 12 Q.12-13: The rotation of the Earth 12 Q.14: The horizon 12 Q.15: The appearance of distant hills 12 IN THE "PLAYGROUND" 13 (just to get our feet wet...) Q.16: Loch Ness--how long to empty it? 13 Q.17: The Grand Canyon--how long to fill it with sand? 14 Q.18: Just how large an area is a million acres? 15 Q.19: Twenty-five billion hamburgers--how many have you eaten? 16 Q.20: How many head of cattle would be required to satisfy the (1978) daily demand for meat in the United States? 16 Q.21: Why could King Kong never exist? 17 Q.22: Why do small bugs dislike taking showers? 18 Q.23: How fast is that raindrop falling? 18 Q.24: Why can haystacks explode if they're too big? 20 In the garden 24 Q.25: Why can I see the "whole universe" in my garden globe? 24 Q.26: How long is that bee going to collect nectar? 25 Q.27: Why are those drops on the spider's web so evenly spaced? 27 Q.28: What is the Fibonacci sequence? 31 Q.29: So what is the "golden angle"? 35 Q.30: Why are the angles between leaves "just so"? 36 IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD 43 Q.31: Can you infer fencepost (or bridge) "shapes" just by walking past them? 43 Q.32: Can you weigh a pumpkin just by carefully looking at it? 48 Q.33: Can you determine the paths of low-flying ducks? 53 IN THE SHADOWS 58 Q.34: How high is that tree? (An estimate using elliptical light patches) 58 Q.35: Does my shadow accelerate? 59 Q.36: How long is the Earth's shadow? 61 Q.37: And Jupiter's? And Neptune's? 63 Q.38: How wide is the Moon's shadow? 63 IN THE SKY 64 Q.39: How far away is the horizon (neglecting refraction)? 64 Q.40: How far away is that cloud? 66 Q.41: How well is starlight reflected from a calm body of water? 67 Q.42: How heavy is that cloud? 71 Q.43: Why can we see farther in rain than in fog? 72 Q.44: How far away does that "road puddle" mirage appear to be? 73 Q.45: Why is the sky blue? 77 Q.46: So how much more is violet light scattered than red? 79 Q.47: What causes variation in colors of butterfly wings, bird plumage, and oil slicks? 80 Q.48: What causes the metallic colors in that cloud? 84 Q.49: How do rainbows form? And what are those fringes underneath the primary bow? 85 Q.50: What about the secondary rainbow? 92 Q.51: Are there higher-order rainbows? 93 Q.52: So what is that triple rainbow? 95 Q.53: Is there a "zeroth"-order rainbow? 98 Q.54: Can bubbles produce "rainbows"? 99 Q.55: What would "diamondbows" look like? 100 Q.56: What causes that ring around the Sun? 101 Q.57: What is that shaft of light above the setting Sun? 109 Q.58: What is that colored splotch of light beside the Sun? 111 Q.59: What's that "smiley face" in the sky? 113 Q.60: What are those colored rings around the shadow of my plane? 116 Q.61: Why does geometrical optics imply infinite intensity at the rainbow angle? 118 IN THE NEST 122 Q.62: How can you model the shape of birds' eggs? 122 Q.63: What is the sphericity index? 123 Q.64: Can the shape of an egg be modeled trigonometrically? 124 Q.65: Can the shape of an egg be modeled algebraically? 127 Q.66: Can the shape of an egg be modeled using calculus? 130 Q.67: Can the shape of an egg be modeled geometrically? 134 IN (OR ON) THE WATER 137 Q.68: What causes a glitter path? 137 Q.69: What is the path of wave intersections? 140 Q.70: How fast do waves move on the surface of water? 141 Q.71: How do moving ships produce that wave pattern? 148 Q.72: How do rocks in a flowing stream produce different patterns? 152 Q.73: Can waves be stopped by opposing streams? 154 Q.74: How far away is the storm? 157 Q.75: How fast is the calm region of that "puddle wave" expanding? 158 Q.76: How much energy do ocean waves have? 160 Q.77: Does a wave raise the average depth of the water? 162 Q.78: How can ship wakes prove the Earth is "round"? 164 In the forest 168 Q.79: How high can trees grow? 168 Q.80: How much shade does a layer of leaves provide for the layer below? 172 Q.81: What is the "murmur of the forest"? 174 Q.82: How opaque is a wood or forest? 176 Q.83: Why do some trees have "tumors"? 179 IN THE NATIONAL PARK 183 Q.84: What shapes are river meanders? 183 Q.85: Why are mountain shadows triangular? 189 Q.86: Why does Zion Arch appear circular? 191 IN THE NIGHT SKY 194 Q.87: How are star magnitudes measured? 194 Q.88: How can I stargaze with a flashlight? 196 Q.89: How can you model a star? 197 Q.90: How long would it take the Sun to collapse? 205 Q.91: What are those small rings around the Moon? 207 Q.92: How can you model an eclipse of the Sun? 210 AT THE END ... 217 Q.93: How can you model walking? 217 Q.94: How "long" is that tree? 221 Q.95: What are those "rays" I sometimes see at or after sunset? 224 Q.96: How can twilight help determine the height of the atmosphere? 228 Appendix 1: A very short glossary of mathematical terms and functions 231 Appendix 2: Answers to questions 1-15 234 Appendix 3: Newton's law of cooling 238 Appendix 4: More mathematical patterns in nature 240 References 243 Index 247

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Book SynopsisExplores a range of entertaining questions about urban life such as: How do you estimate the number of dental or doctor's offices, gas stations, restaurants, or movie theaters in a city of a given size? How can mathematics be used to maximize traffic flow through tunnels? And, more.Trade Review"[Adam's] writing is fun and accessible... College or even advanced high school mathematics instructors will find plenty of great examples here to supplement the standard calculus problem sets."--Library Journal "For mathematics professionals, especially those engaged in teaching, this book does contain some novel examples that illustrate topics such as probability and analysis."--Choice "Read this book and come away with a fresh view of how cities work. Enjoy it for the connections between mathematics and the real world. Share it with your friends, family, and maybe even a municipal planning commissioner or two!"--Sandra L. Arlinghaus, Mathematical Reviews Clippings "It goes without saying that the exposition is very friendly and lucid: this makes the vast majority of material accessible to a general audience interested in mathematical modeling and real life applications. This excellent book may well complement standard texts on engineering mathematics, mathematical modeling, applied mathematics, differential equations; it is a delightful and entertaining reading itself. Thank you, Vickie Kearn, the editor of A Mathematical Nature Walk, for suggesting the idea of this book to Professor Adam--your idea has been delightfully implemented!"--Svitlana P. Rogovchenko, Zentralblatt MATH "[Y]ou'll find this book quite extensive in how many different areas you can apply mathematics in the city and just how revealing even a simple model can be... A Mathematical Nature Walk opened my eyes to nature and now Adam has done the same for cities."--David S. Mazel, MAA Reviews "The author has an entertaining style, interweaving clever stories with the process of mathematical modeling. This book is not designed as a textbook, although it could certainly be used as an interesting source of real-world problems and examples for advanced high school mathematics courses."--Theresa Jorgensen, Mathematics TeacherTable of ContentsPreface xiii Acknowledgments xvii Chapter 1 Introduction: Cancer, Princess Dido, and the city 1 Chapter 2 Getting to the city 7 Chapter 3 Living in the city 15 Chapter 4 Eating in the city 35 Chapter 5 Gardening in the city 41 Chapter 6 Summer in the city 47 Chapter 7 Not driving in the city! 63 Chapter 8 Driving in the city 73 Chapter 9 Probability in the city 89 Chapter 10 Traffic in the city 97 Chapter 11 Car following in the city--I 107 Chapter 12 Car following in the city--II 113 Chapter 13 Congestion in the city 121 Chapter 14 Roads in the city 129 Chapter 15 Sex and the city 135 Chapter 16 Growth and the city 149 Chapter 17 The axiomatic city 159 Chapter 18 Scaling in the city 167 Chapter 19 Air pollution in the city 179 Chapter 20 Light in the city 191 Chapter 21 Nighttime in the city--I 209 Chapter 22 Nighttime in the city--II 221 Chapter 23 Lighthouses in the city? 233 Chapter 24 Disaster in the city? 247 Chapter 25 Getting away from the city 255 Appendix 1 Theorems for Princess Dido 261 Appendix 2 Dido and the sinc function 263 Appendix 3 Taxicab geometry 269 Appendix 4 The Poisson distribution 273 Appendix 5 The method of Lagrange multipliers 277 Appendix 6 A spiral braking path 279 Appendix 7 The average distance between two random points in a circle 281 Appendix 8 Informal "derivation" of the logistic differential equation 283 Appendix 9 A miniscule introduction to fractals 287 Appendix 10 Random walks and the diffusion equation 291 Appendix 11 Rainbow/halo details 297 Appendix 12 The Earth as vacuum cleaner? 303 Annotated references and notes 309 Index 317

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Book SynopsisOn October 23, 1852, Professor Augustus De Morgan wrote a letter to a colleague, unaware that he was launching one of the most famous mathematical conundrums in history - one that would confound thousands of puzzlers for more than a century. This book tells the amazing story of how the "map problem" was solved.Trade Review"The simplicity of the four-color conjecture is deceptive. Just how deceptive is made clear by Robin Wilson's delightful history of the quest to resolve it... Four Colors Suffice is strewn with good anecdotes, and the author ... proves himself skillful at making the mathematics accessible."--Jim Holt, New York Review of Books "Wilson's lucid history weaves together lively anecdotes, biographical sketches, and a non-technical account of the mathematics."--Science "Earlier books ... relate some of the relevant history in their introductions, but they are primarily technical. In contrast, Four Colors Suffice is a blend of history anecdotes and mathematics. Mathematical arguments are presented in a clear, colloquial style, which flows gracefully."--Daniel S. Silver, American Scientist "Robin Wilson appeals to the mathematical novice with an unassuming lucidity. It's thrilling to see great mathematicians fall for seductively simple proofs, then stumble on equally simple counter-examples. Or swallow their pride."--Jascha Hoffman, The Boston Globe "A thoroughly accessible history of attempts to prove the four-color theorem. Wilson defines the problem and explains some of the methods used by those trying to solve it. His descriptions of the contributions made by dozens of dedicated, and often eccentric, mathematicians give a fascinating insight into how mathematics moves forward, and how approaches have changed over the past 50 years... It's comforting to know that however indispensable computers become, there will always be a place for the delightfully eccentric mathematical mind. Let's hope that Robin Wilson continues to write about them."--Elizabeth Sourbut, New Scientist "An attractive and well-written account of the solution of the Four Color Problem... It tells in simple terms an exciting story. It ... give[s] the reader a view into the world of mathematicians, their ideas and methods, discussions, competitions, and ways of collaboration. As such it is warmly recommended."--Bjarne Toft, Notices of the American Mathematical Society "Recreational mathematicians will find Wilson's history of the conjecture an approachable mix of its technical and human aspects... Wilson explains all with exemplary clarity and an accent on the eccentricities of the characters."--Booklist "Wilson gives a clear account of the proof ... enlivened by historical tales."--Alastair Rae, Physics World "Wilson provides a lively narrative and good, easy-to-read arguments showing not only some of the victories but the defeats as well... Even those with only a mild interest in coloring problems or graphs or topology will have fun reading this book... [It is] entertaining, erudite and loaded with anecdotes."--G.L. Alexanderson, MAA OnlineTable of ContentsForeword by Ian Stewart xi Preface to the Revised Color Edition xiii Preface to the Original Edition xv 1The Four-Color Problem 1 What Is the Four-Color Problem? | Why Is It Interesting? | Is It Important? | What Is Meant by "Solving" It? | Who Posed It, and How Was It Solved? | Painting by Numbers | Two Examples 2The Problem Is Posed 12 De Morgan Writes a Letter | Hotspur and the Athenaeum | Mobius and the Five Princes | Confusion Reigns 3Euler's Famous Formula 28 Euler Writes a Letter | From Polyhedra to Maps | Only Five Neighbors | A Counting Formula 4Cayley Revives the Problem ... 45 Cayley's Query | Knocking Down Dominoes | Minimal Criminals | The Six-Color Theorem 5... and Kempe Solves It 55 Sylvester's New Journal | Kempe's Paper | Kempe Chains | Some Variations | Back to Baltimore 6A Chapter of Accidents 71 A Challenge for the Bishop | A Visit to Scotland | Cycling around Polyhedra | A Voyage around the World | Wee Planetoids 7A Bombshell from Durham 86 Heawood's Map | A Salvage Operation | Coloring Empires | Maps on Bagels | Picking Up the Pieces 8Crossing the Atlantic 105 Two Fundamental Ideas | Finding Unavoidable Sets | Finding Reducible Configurations | Coloring Diamonds | How Many Ways? 9A New Dawn Breaks 124 Bagels and Traffic Cops | Heinrich Heesch | Wolfgang Haken | Enter the Computer | Coloring Horseshoes 10Success! 139 A Heesch-Haken Partnership? | Kenneth Appel | Getting Down to Business | The Final Onslaught | A Race against Time | Aftermath 11Is It a Proof? 157 Cool Reaction | What Is a Proof Today? | Meanwhile ... | A New Proof | Into the Next Millennium | The Future Chronology of Events 171 Notes and References 175 Glossary 187 Picture Credits 193 Index 195

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Book SynopsisWhat is the shortest possible route for a traveling salesman seeking to visit each city on a list exactly once and return to his city of origin? It sounds simple enough, yet the traveling salesman problem is one of the most intensely studied puzzles in applied mathematics--and it has defied solution to this day. In this book, William Cook takes reaTrade Review"Fascinating ... describes the history, personalities, challenges, applications and techniques used to find solutions of the famous 'Traveling Salesman Problem' and related problems."--Pradeep Mutalik, Wordplay blog at New York Times "The Traveling Salesman Problem, or TSP, might seem to be of purely recreational interest ... but in fact, as William J. Cook's In Pursuit of the Traveling Salesman ably shows, the problem remains a topic of hot interest... [This book is] an excellent place for an interested amateur to get the gist of these big ideas in a down-to-earth discussion... Mr. Cook's affable style means that you're never too far from an enjoyable historical anecdote or an offbeat application of a problem that has interested some of the best minds in applied math for most of a century and that shows no signs of getting stale."--Jordan Ellenberg, Wall Street Journal "The author, William Cook, writes in an easy to understand style and explores the various algorithms and branches of mathematics used to solve TSP, including the branch of mathematics known as linear programming, which is known to most of us through grade school algebra and word problems... In Pursuit of the Traveling Salesman is a thoroughly entertaining nerd-fest for the science minded reader."--Robert Schaefer, New York Journal of Books "Along with a heady dose of algorithms, Cook also offers a diverting survey of the lore and history of the TSP... The new volume addresses a wider audience [than The Traveling Salesman Problem: A Computational Study], with more pictures and fewer equations, explaining how things are done rather than how to do them, but it covers all the same territory as the larger book. The path through that territory seems reasonably close to optimal."--Brian Hayes, American Scientist "In Pursuit of the Traveling Salesman is a first-hand and a first-class introduction into the evolution of TSP, with chapters devoted to related mathematics and algorithmic topics. TSP is really at the heart of much of the research and development of modern computer science, so the author leads the reader through the past and emerging landscape of relevant research up to the very end of the mapped territory. Reading the book looks like an exciting adventure, with the itinerary mapped for the reader by a master story-teller whose work squarely places him in the forefront of the TSP research."--Alexander Bogomolny, Cut the Knot Insights blog "Bill takes his readers down a beautiful path covering the history, applications, and algorithms associated with the TSP. It is a fascinating story, and one that shows a researcher who truly loves his research area... Through this book, you'll learn all about the Traveling Salesman Problem and, more broadly, about the different research directions in combinatorial optimization."--Michael Trick's Operations Research Blog "In his new book, aptly titled In Pursuit of the Traveling Salesman, William Cook enlists us to join him on a personal journey through all-things past and present regarding this mammoth of a mathematical problem... I would highly recommend this book to interested readers and high school mathematics teachers, especially those of upper-level coursework. A great deal of mathematics is covered here and the TSP can easily spark debate and inquiry in the classroom."--Christopher Thompson, Loci: Convergence "In Pursuit of the Traveling Salesman: Mathematics at the Limits of Computation, does a wonderful job presenting the history and significance of the TSP and an overview of cutting-edge research. It's a beautiful, visually rich book, full of color photographs and diagrams that enliven both the narrative and mathematical presentation. And it includes a wealth of information."--Math Less Traveled "This book introduces the TSP, its applications, and computational methods for its solution to a general audience."--Choice "Cook is spot-on in his delivery of what could be considered by most as an arcane mathematical problem to be solved by only those in the engineering world but like Hawking, peaks interest in a field in which lowly MIT professors could only dream... His witty commentary complements his own casual insertion into the mathematical world and drive to solve the greatest of mathematics' problems. This book is proof that good science writing and mathematics add up."--Robert Terpstra, Business Today Egypt "The technical details are described with precision, but the inherent mathematical concepts are explained in an informal way so that readers without a deep mathematical background can also follow the story... The book is full of examples, real applications and historical anecdotes, making it really enjoyable to read."--Gregorio Tirado Dominguez, European Mathematical Society "The book is highly recommended to any one with a mathematical curiosity and interest in the development of ideas."--Haris Aziz, ACM SIGACT News "[T]here is sufficient mathematical detail to provide a good start to readers interested in a more technical treatment. The style is congenial, breezy, and entertaining; many anecdotes and pop culture references are included. Even seasoned researchers will find the book a truly enjoyable read, and it can serve as an ideal basis for a college level freshman seminar."--Gabor Pataki, INFORMS Journal on Computing "The author has a solid understanding of the material and tries to present it in an accessible and sometimes entertaining way... I recommend it to anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the TSP and modern developments in solving TSP-like problems."--S. Leigh Nataro, Mathematics Teacher "[T]his book presents the history and significance of the TSP, and provides an overview of this cutting-edge research in a wonderful way. I recommend it to anybody who is interested in a down-to-earth discussion that provides the most current information on the TSP."--Roberto Baldacci, Interfaces "This book covers all facets of the TSP and ventures into some very deep theory of complexity and computability. It is written for the general mathematician or scientist but would also be useful to the OR specialist. Overall it is entertaining, richly illustrated and well-referenced. It tells us much about general problem solving as well as the TSP."--Francis McGonigal, Mathematics TodayTable of ContentsPreface xi Chapter 1: Challenges 1 Tour of the United States 2 An Impossible Task? 6 One Problem at a Time 10 Road Map of the Book 16 Chapter 2: Origins of the Problem 19 Before the Mathematicians 19 Euler and Hamilton 27 Vienna to Harvard to Princeton 35 And on to the RAND Corporation 38 A Statistical View 39 Chapter 3: The Salesman in Action 44 Road Trips 44 Mapping Genomes 49 Aiming Telescopes, X-rays, and Lasers 51 Guiding Industrial Machines 53 Organizing Data 56 Tests for Microprocessors 59 Scheduling Jobs 60 And More 60 Chapter 4: Searching for a Tour 62 The 48-States Problem 62 Growing Trees and Tours 65 AlterationsWhile You Wait 75 Borrowing from Physics and Biology 84 The DIMACS Challenge 91 Tour Champions 92 Chapter 5: Linear Programming 94 General-Purpose Model 94 The Simplex Algorithm 99 Two for the Price of One: LP Duality 105 The Degree LP Relaxation of the TSP 108 Eliminating Subtours 113 A Perfect Relaxation 118 Integer Programming 122 Operations Research 125 Chapter 6: Cutting Planes 127 The Cutting-Plane Method 127 A Catalog of TSP Inequalities 131 The Separation Problem 137 Edmonds's Glimpse of Heaven 142 Cutting Planes for Integer Programming 144 Chapter 7: Branching 146 Breaking Up 146 The Search Party 148 Branch-and-bound for Integer Programming 151 Chapter 8: Big Computing 153 World Records 153 The TSP on a Grand Scale 163 Chapter 9: Complexity 168 A Model of Computation 169 The Campaign of Jack Edmonds 171 Cook's Theorem and Karp's List 174 State of the TSP 178 Do We Need Computers? 184 Chapter 10: The Human Touch 191 Humans versus Computers 191 Tour-finding Strategies 192 The TSP in Neuroscience 196 Animals Solving the TSP 197 Chapter 11: Aesthetics 199 Julian Lethbridge 199 Jordan Curves 201 Continuous Lines 205 Art and Mathematics 207 Chapter 12: Pushing the Limits 211 Notes 213 Bibliography 223 Index 225

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Book SynopsisThe interest earned on a bank account, the arrangement of seeds in a sunflower, and the shape of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis are all intimately connected with the mysterious number e. In this informal and engaging history, Eli Maor portrays the curious characters and the elegant mathematics that lie behind the number. Designed for a reader with oTrade ReviewHonorable Mention for the 1994 Award for Best Professional/Scholarly Book in Mathematics, Association of American Publishers "This is a gently paced, elegantly composed book, and it will bring its readers much pleasure... Maor has written an excellent book that should be in every public and school library."--Ian Stewart, New Scientist "Maor wonderfully tells the story of e. The chronological history allows excursions into the lives of people involved with the development of this fascinating number. Maor hangs his story on a string of people stretching from Archimedes to David Hilbert. And by presenting mathematics in terms of the humans who produced it, he places the subject where it belongs--squarely in the centre of the humanities."--Jerry P. King, Nature "Maor has succeeded in writing a short, readable mathematical story. He has interspersed a variety of anecdotes, excursions, and essays to lighten the flow... [The book] is like the voyages of Columbus as told by the first mate."--Peter Borwein, Science "Maor attempts to give the irrational number e its rightful standing alongside pi as a fundamental constant in science and nature; he succeeds very well... Maor writes so that both mathematical newcomers and long-time professionals alike can thoroughly enjoy his book, learn something new, and witness the ubiquity of mathematical ideas in Western culture."--Choice "It can be recommended to readers who want to learn about mathematics and its history, who want to be inspired and who want to understand important mathematical ideas more deeply."--EMS Newsletter "[A] very interesting story about the history of e, logarithms, and related matters, especially the history of calculus... [A] useful complement to a course in calculus and analysis, shedding light on some fundamental topics."--Mehdi Hassani, MAA ReviewsTable of ContentsPreface1John Napier, 161432Recognition113Financial Matters234To the Limit, If It Exists285Forefathers of the Calculus406Prelude to Breakthrough497Squaring the Hyperbola588The Birth of a New Science709The Great Controversy8310e[superscript x]: The Function That Equals its Own Derivative9811e[superscript theta]: Spira Mirabilis11412(e[superscript x] + e[superscript -x])/2: The Hanging Chain14013e[superscript ix]: "The Most Famous of All Formulas"15314e[superscript x + iy]: The Imaginary Becomes Real16415But What Kind of Number Is It?183App. 1. Some Additional Remarks on Napier's Logarithms195App. 2. The Existence of lim (1 + 1/n)[superscript n] as n [approaches] [infinity]197App. 3. A Heuristic Derivation of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus200App. 4. The Inverse Relation between lim (b[superscript h] - 1)/h = 1 and lim (1 + h)[superscript 1/h] = b as h [approaches] 0202App. 5. An Alternative Definition of the Logarithmic Function203App. 6. Two Properties of the Logarithmic Spiral205App. 7. Interpretation of the Parameter [phi] in the Hyperbolic Functions208App. 8. e to One Hundred Decimal Places211Bibliography213Index217

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“A model of mathematical exposition. The quality of writing is consistently high: clear but not condescending, humorous, chatty, and a genuine pleasure to read.”—Mark Hunacek, MAA Reviews“The book shows how budding interest in mathematics can be fostered and developed.”—Alexander Bogomolny, Cut the Knot“What I love about The Joy of SET is that it is written in such a way that it can be read and enjoyed by both SET enthusiasts and someone that has never played SET before.”—Sarah Carter, Math Equals Love“As the authors convincingly demonstrate . . . the mathematics behind SET actually goes very deep."—Brent Yorgey, Math Less Traveled“The Joy of SET uses a popular and very simple card game as a springboard for a whirlwind tour through probability, combinatorics, finite geometries, and experimental mathematics. Whether or not you play SET, you’ll find a lot of great math to play with in this book.”—Jordan Ellenberg, author of How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year"

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Book SynopsisThis remarkable book has endured as a masterpiece of mathematical exposition. There are few mathematics books that are still so widely read and continue to have so much to offer-even after more than half a century. The book is overflowing with mathematical ideas, which are explained clearly and elegantly, and above all, with penetrating insight.Trade ReviewThis book is a masterpiece -- a delightful classic that should never go out of print. -- MAA Reviews [This] superb introduction to modern geometry was co-authored by David Hilbert, one of the greatest mathematicians of the 20th century. -- Steven StrogatzTable of Contents The simplest curves and surfaces Regular systems of points Projective configurations Differential geometry Kinematics Topology Index.

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Book SynopsisWho were the five strangest mathematicians in history? What are the ten most interesting numbers? Jam-packed with thought-provoking mathematical mysteries, puzzles, and games, Wonders of Numbers will enchant even the most left-brained of readers. Hosted by the quirky Dr. Googol--who resides on a remote island and occasionally collaborates with Clifford Pickover--Wonders of Numbers focuses on creativity and the delight of discovery. Here is a potpourri of common and unusual number theory problems of varying difficulty--each presented in brief chapters that convey to readers the essence of the problem rather than its extraneous history. Peppered throughout with illustrations that clarify the problems, Wonders of Numbers also includes fascinating math gossip. How would we use numbers to communicate with aliens? Check out Chapter 30. Did you know that there is a Numerical Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? You''ll find it in Chapter 45. From the beautiful formula of India''s most famous math

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisQuiz your family at home with crosswords, puzzles and games. Stretch your powers of logical deduction with these 200 new Su Doku puzzles, in easy, medium and difficult categories.

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Book SynopsisA coloring book that invites readers to explore symmetry and the beauty of math visually.Beautiful Symmetry is a coloring book about math, inviting us to engage with mathematical concepts visually through coloring challenges and visual puzzles. We can explore symmetry and the beauty of mathematics playfully, coloring through ideas usually reserved for advanced courses. The book is for children and adults, for math nerds and math avoiders, for educators, students, and coloring enthusiasts. Through illustration, language that is visual, and words that are jargon-free, the book introduces group theory as the mathematical foundation for discussions of symmetry, covering symmetry groups that include the cyclic groups, frieze groups, and wallpaper groups. The illustrations are drawn by algorithms, following the symmetry rules for each given group. The coloring challenges can be completed and fully realized only on the page; solutions are provided. Online, in a complem

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWinner of the 2015 Lewis Thomas Prize for Writing About Science MAA Reviews "The book is crafted with great enthusiasm, resulting in a delightful reading experience encompassing countless results and areas of classical and current research." Kirkus "Stewart receives an A for telling us how vast, wonderful and useful are all the members of the world of numbers."Table of ContentsNumbers Small Numbers Zero and Negative Numbers Complex Numbers Rational Numbers Irrational Numbers Special Small Numbers Special Big Numbers Infinite Numbers Life, the Universe, and...

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Book SynopsisWhether you have only a distant recollection of high school algebra or use differential equations every day, this book offers examples of the impact of chance that will amuse and astonish.Trade ReviewAll 140 pages of What Are the Chances? are enjoyable and convey much wisdom in an area where gut feelings and rash actions frequently prevail. -- Colin Keay The Physicist An extremely fun read... Insightful and full of interesting applications. Chance Holland captures the reader's imagination with surprising examples of probability in action, everyday events that can profoundly affect our lives. It will amuse and astonish the reader. Journal of Irreproducible Results Holland Captures the reader's imagination with surprising examples of probability in action, everyday events that can profoundly affect our lives but are controlled by just one number. Mathematical Reviews What Are the Chances? is an enjoyable read. And painlessly instructive as well... [a] charming book. -- James Gerrand The Skeptic What Are the Chances? will give you a whole new outlook... readable, comprehendable, and often funny. -- Marilis Hornidge The Courier-Gazette If you have ever wondered about the chances of a Prussian cavalryman being kicked to death by his horse or if you prefer to work out your own life expectancy by staring at life tables, then Bart Holland's excellent primer on probability is a great place to start. In a time when anecdote and panic seem to influence public policy more than objective analysis, Holland has provided a welcome reminder of the power of the analytical approach. -- Simon Singh New Scientist Will entertain and inform people who like statistical puzzles and may nudge those who don't toward statistical literacy... Offers explanations of such probability-based phenomena as why buses come in clumps, how life insurance table work, and how diseases spread. While maintaining a sense of fun, Holland still manages to work in some equations and a little of the history behind different kinds of statistical reasoning. Library Journal Written to make minimal (almost zero) use of formulas or algebraic skills. Covers a remarkable number of topics [which are] introduced to stimulate the interest of the average reader. American Mathematical Monthly This is a book I can happily recommend... I learnt something from every chapter. -- Quentin L. Burrell Significance 2004 The author writes fluently and with authority and he covers a host of different situations... The strength of this book is the wealth of examples of applied probability theory which will provide useful support for any statistics course in the classroom. -- Gerry Leversha Mathematical Gazette 2004 An excellent source of interesting examples of probability and statistics in action. -- James V. Rauff Mathematics and Computer Education 2004Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsChapter 1. Roulette Wheels and the PlagueChapter 2. Surely Something's Wrong With YouChapter 3. The Life Table: You Can Bet On It!Chapter 4. The Rarest EventsChapter 5. The Waiting GameChapter 6. Stockbrokers and Climate ChangeIndex

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Book SynopsisIn a series of 50 accessible essays, Tony Crilly explains and introduces the mathematical laws and principles - ancient and modern, theoretical and practical, everyday and esoteric - that allow us to understand the world around us.From Pascal's triangle to money management, ideas of relativity to the very real uses of imaginary numbers, 50 Math Ideas is a complete introduction to the most important mathematical concepts in history.

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