Showing titles in Mathematics

Nobel Laureate Eugene Wigner once wondered about "the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics" in the formulation of the laws of nature. Is God a Mathematician? investigates why mathematics is as powerful as it is. From ancient times to the present, scientists and philosophers have marveled at how such a seemingly abstract discipline could so perfectly explain the natural world. More than that - mathematics has often made predictions, for example, about subatomic particles or cosmic phenomena that were unknown at the time, but later were proven to be true.

For thousands of years mathematicians solved progressively more difficult algebraic equations, until they encountered the quintic equation, which resisted solution for three centuries. Working independently, two prodigies ultimately proved that the quintic cannot be solved by a simple formula. The first popular account of the mathematics of symmetry and order, The Equation That Couldn't Be Solved is told not through abstract formulas but in a beautifully written and dramatic account of the lives and work of some of the greatest and most intriguing mathematicians in history.

Math Without Numbers is a vivid and wholly original guide to the three main branches of abstract math - topology, analysis and algebra - which turn out to be surprisingly easy to grasp. Milo Beckman upends the conventional approach to mathematics, inviting you to think creatively about shape and dimension, the infinite and infinitesimal, symmetries, proofs and how these concepts all fit together. How many shapes are there? Is anything bigger than infinity? And can mathematics even be described as 'true'?

Thinking Statistically is the book that shows you how to think like a statistician, without worrying about formal statistical techniques. Along the way we learn how selection bias can explain why your boss doesn't know he sucks (even when everyone else does); how to use Bayes' theorem to decide if your partner is cheating on you; and why Mark Zuckerberg should never be used as an example for anything.

It used to be that to diagnose an illness, interpret legal documents, analyze foreign policy, or write a newspaper article you needed a human being with specific skills - and maybe an advanced degree or two. These days, high-level tasks are increasingly being handled by algorithms that can do precise work not only with speed but also with nuance. These "bots" started with human programming and logic, but now their reach extends beyond what their creators ever expected.

Do you like to make uninformed, often poor decisions? Are you okay with being manipulated by skewed charts and diagrams? How about being lied to about the effectiveness of a product? Statistics can help you make exponentially better calls on what to buy, who to listen to, and what to believe.

In his groundbreaking book Predictably Irrational, social scientist Dan Ariely revealed the multiple biases that lead us into making unwise decisions. Now, in The Upside of Irrationality, he exposes the surprising negative and positive effects irrationality can have on our lives. Focusing on our behaviors at work and in relationships, he offers new insights and eye-opening truths about what really motivates us on the job.

In the middle ages, Christianity shared much with Buddhism and other Eastern philosophies. Listen to learn how Christian mystics came to the same conclusions as those from very different faiths. This edition has been adapted from the 1923 version into modern English to make the ideas more accessible to today's listener, the Cloud of Unknowing distills a complex mystical epistemology and discipline into engaging, understandable prose.

In Simply Gödel, Richard Tieszen traces Kurt Gödel’s life and career, from his early years in tumultuous, culturally rich Vienna to his many brilliant achievements as a member of IAS, as well as his repeated battles with mental illness. In discussing Gödel’s ideas, Tieszen not only provides an accessible explanation of the incompleteness theorems, but explores some of his lesser known writings, including his thoughts on time travel and his proof of the existence of God.

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?

At 20 years of age, Samuel Leach was studying at college. He appeared to be a typical student, but there was something different about him. While his classmates were engrossed in their studies, as well as their burgeoning social lives, Samuel was adding another facet to his education. He was teaching himself the science and art of trading. With nothing more than a boxer's heart and drive, Samuel turned £2k into £178k in his first year, and a few short years later, he rose to global renown by building his new enterprise to become a multi-million-pound trading business.

At first glance, the concept of equality in maths seems unambiguous. When we see the equality sign, we think of 'solving for x' or balancing two sides of an equation or maybe even the many famous equations that make use of this elegant, innocuous symbol: =. But between those parallel lines lies a mathematical playground of choice and abstraction, leading to far greater insight than you could have dreamed.

If you want to learn how to solve algebra problems faster with less effort, then get How To Do Algebra. In this step-by-step guide, you will discover tips, techniques, and strategies on how to become better at algebra from an algebra teacher's perspective.

For going on two decades, Scientific American’s “Ask the Experts” column has been answering reader questions on all fields of science. We’ve taken your questions from the basic to the esoteric and reached out to top scientists, professors, and researchers to find out why the sky is blue or whether we really only use 10 percent of our brains. Now, we’ve combed through our archives and have compiled some of the most interesting questions (and answers) into a series of books.

Models are at the centre of everything we do. They act as metaphors that help us better understand the increasingly complex problems facing us in the modern world. Yet in recent years, the validity of the models we use has been hotly debated and there has been renewed awareness of the disastrous consequences when the makers and interpreters of models get things wrong. Drawing on contemporary examples from finance, climate and health policy, Erica Thompson explores what models are, why we need them, how they work and what happens when they go wrong.

Do you sometimes question if you are on the right path or if you are wasting your time on something you are not supposed to do? Do you repeatedly see numbers all around you? I´m not talking about telephone numbers, area codes, or price tags, but patterns that are not "normal"? 11:11, 333, 666? Do you ever recognize certain character traits among people that are born in the same month? What if all the "coincidences" in your life mean much more than you think on first sight?

The aim of machine learning is to train the computers or machine to learn on its own and make informed decisions in a relatively shorter time than what human beings can do. The primary objective of this audiobook is to provide you with all the ins and outs of Markov models, and unsupervised machine learning over a range of multi-faceted applications. Specifically, the audiobook will explore practical implementations of Markov models in a Python programming environment.

What part of memory is reliable fact, what part creative embellishment? Which favorite presuppositions are unfounded, which statistically biased? By conjoining two opposing mind-sets - the suspension of disbelief required in storytelling and the skepticism inherent in the scientific method - best-selling mathematician John Allen Paulos has created an unusual hybrid, a composite of personal memories and mathematical approaches to reevaluating them.

Boolean algebra, also called Boolean logic, is at the heart of the electronic circuitry in everything we use - from our computers and cars, to our kitchen gadgets and home appliances. How did a system of mathematics established in the Victorian era become the basis for such incredible technological achievements a century later?

Through entertaining stories, surprising real-world examples and a cast of unforgettable characters, Mapmatics helps us to appreciate the mathematical methods and ideas behind maps. And, by illuminating how our world works, leaves us better equipped to understand and look after it.