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Do I Count?
The subject of mathematics is not something distant, strange, and abstract that you can only learn about and often dislike in school. It is in everyday situations, such as housekeeping, communications, traffic, and weather reports. Taking you on a trip into the world of mathematics, Do I Count? Stories from Mathematics describes in a clear and captivating way the people behind the numbers and the places where mathematics is made.
Written by top scientist and engaging storyteller Gunter M. Ziegler and translated by Thomas von Foerster, the book presents mathematics and mathematicians in a manner that you have not previously encountered. It guides you on a scenic tour through the field, pointing out which beds were useful in constructing which theorems and which notebooks list the prizes for solving particular problems. Forgoing esoteric areas, the text relates mathematics to celebrities, history, travel, politics, science and technology, weather, clever puzzles, and the future.
Can bees count? Is 13 bad luck? Are there equations for everything? What s the real practical value of the Pythagorean Theorem? Are there Sudoku puzzles with fewer than 17 entries and just one solution? Where and how do mathematicians work? Who invented proofs and why do we need them? Why is there no Nobel Prize for mathematics? What kind of life did Paul Erd s lead?
Find out the answers to these and other questions in this entertaining book of stories. You ll see that everyone counts, but no computation is needed."
Written by top scientist and engaging storyteller Gunter M. Ziegler and translated by Thomas von Foerster, the book presents mathematics and mathematicians in a manner that you have not previously encountered. It guides you on a scenic tour through the field, pointing out which beds were useful in constructing which theorems and which notebooks list the prizes for solving particular problems. Forgoing esoteric areas, the text relates mathematics to celebrities, history, travel, politics, science and technology, weather, clever puzzles, and the future.
Can bees count? Is 13 bad luck? Are there equations for everything? What s the real practical value of the Pythagorean Theorem? Are there Sudoku puzzles with fewer than 17 entries and just one solution? Where and how do mathematicians work? Who invented proofs and why do we need them? Why is there no Nobel Prize for mathematics? What kind of life did Paul Erd s lead?
Find out the answers to these and other questions in this entertaining book of stories. You ll see that everyone counts, but no computation is needed."
226 pages, Paperback
First published June 27, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 28, 2019
The book was short and sweet. I felt like the flow of concepts and ideas was not coherent. It didn't help for me as I knew few stories mentioned in the book in greater details. I did enjoy the chapter 9 (what kinds of people are there?) where the authors give a short introduction to some brilliant minds that he knew. Also, the tone about women's role and importance for the mathematics was the highlight of chapter 9. We have come a long way from the first woman professor in mathematics (Sonya Kovalevskaya) to Caroline Lasser, a cheerful accomplished young mathematician balancing her career with kids. Every field needs more people like Sonya, Susanne, and Caroline who are curious to learn and grow.
November 18, 2014
A grab bag of articles on mathematical concepts, problems and solutions or lack thereof, plus some math history, and gossip. Fun book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews