Description
Book Synopsis'A wise, witty and insightful guide to clear thinking amid a deluge of percentages and probabilities.' Ian Stewart
Like it or not, our lives are dominated by mathematics. Our daily diet of news regales us with statistical forecasts, opinion polls, risk assessments, inflation figures, weather and climate predictions and all sorts of political decisions and advice backed up by supposedly accurate numbers. Most of us do not even pause and question such figures even to ask what they really mean and whether they raise more questions than they answer.
In this simple guide for anyone numbed by numbers, William Hartston reveals with clarity and humour why the figures being flung at us may not tell the whole story. Along the way he explains commonly misused mathematical terms, solves everyday mathematical problems and shows how to steer a safe path through the minefield of mathematics that surrounds us.
Trade ReviewIf you're not one of the lucky few who can say, "Oh, mathematics was my
best subject at school," then you might find yourself stumped by the news, or personal finance, or chaos and catastrophe (yes, William Hartston shows us there's maths involved there, too). Luckily,
Numb and Number is able to explain these things and more, in a way that's
easy to understand and even enjoyable to read. * BBC Science Focus *
A wise, witty, and insightful guide to clear thinking amid a deluge of percentages and probabilities. Learn to spot the fake formulas and the spurious statistics. Up to 100% of readers will find this book utterly fascinating. Recommended by 92.53% of mathematicians. -- Ian Stewart, author of Do Dice Play God?
Table of Contents1: The Number of Our Days 2: Surveying the Scene 3: Risk and Behaviour 4: The Mathematics of Sport 5: Saved You! 6: Numbers Large and Small 7: The Insignificance of Significance 8: Cause and Effect 9: Percentages and More Misleading Mathematics 10: Chaotic Butterflies 11: Torpedoes, Toilets and True Love 12: Formula Milking 13: Monkey Maths 14: Pandemic Pandemonium
