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Paradoxes: Guiding Forces in Mathematical Exploration
A Riveting Account of Paradoxes and their Impact on Mathematics
Does .999...=1? Can a sphere be reassembled into two identically sized spheres? Is the consistency of mathematical systems unprovable? Surprisingly, the answer to all of these questions is yes! And at the heart of each question, there lies paradox.
For millennia, paradoxes have shaped mathematics and guided mathematical progress. From the ancient paradoxes of Zeno to the modern paradoxes of Russell, paradoxes remind us of the constant need to revamp our mathematical understanding. It is for this reason that paradoxes are so important.
Guiding Forces in Mathematical Exploration provides a survey of mathematical paradoxes spanning a wide variety of topics; delving into each paradox mathematically, philosophically, and historically. Readers will gain a full picture of how paradoxes have contributed to and guided the progress of mathematics in many ways. Paradoxes also provides the reader with a robust argument for the inclusion of paradoxes in education. This is all presented in a way that is accessible to anyone with a high school background in mathematics! Entertaining and educational, this book will appeal to any reader looking for a mathematical and philosophical challenge.
Does .999...=1? Can a sphere be reassembled into two identically sized spheres? Is the consistency of mathematical systems unprovable? Surprisingly, the answer to all of these questions is yes! And at the heart of each question, there lies paradox.
For millennia, paradoxes have shaped mathematics and guided mathematical progress. From the ancient paradoxes of Zeno to the modern paradoxes of Russell, paradoxes remind us of the constant need to revamp our mathematical understanding. It is for this reason that paradoxes are so important.
Guiding Forces in Mathematical Exploration provides a survey of mathematical paradoxes spanning a wide variety of topics; delving into each paradox mathematically, philosophically, and historically. Readers will gain a full picture of how paradoxes have contributed to and guided the progress of mathematics in many ways. Paradoxes also provides the reader with a robust argument for the inclusion of paradoxes in education. This is all presented in a way that is accessible to anyone with a high school background in mathematics! Entertaining and educational, this book will appeal to any reader looking for a mathematical and philosophical challenge.
- GenresScienceMathematics
Kindle Edition
Published September 10, 2020
7 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Hamza Alsamraee
2 books17 followersHamza Alsamraee is the founder of DailyMath, the largest math community on Instagram, as well as the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller "Advanced Calculus Explored: With Applications in Physics, Chemistry, and Beyond." He was the recipient of the 2020 Strogatz Prize for Mathematics Communication, awarded by the National Museum of Mathematics. Besides his interest in STEM, he is interested in philosophy, wrestling, and long walks on the beach.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
September 17, 2020
Paradoxes: Guiding Forces in Mathematical Exploration is a thought-provoking book that keeps you engaged through every page. Each of the 5 parts introduced many intriguing paradoxes, all explained in a comprehensible way that sparks curiosity and desire to keep reading, to keep learning more. All the background knowledge needed to comprehend a paradox is explained, and many helpful images and examples are given to aid in understanding. The author also explains how the paradoxes are relevant to our lives, providing interesting examples and connections to other fields, like physics and medicine. I particularly enjoyed reading about the history of mathematics, and about how paradoxes shaped the trajectory of mathematical progress.
As a rising high school sophomore that has finished the high school mathematics curriculum, I loved this book. Reading it changed my view of mathematics- I now realize how essential paradoxes are to understanding it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to further their knowledge of mathematics, or anyone who enjoys thinking about how to make the impossible possible.
As a rising high school sophomore that has finished the high school mathematics curriculum, I loved this book. Reading it changed my view of mathematics- I now realize how essential paradoxes are to understanding it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to further their knowledge of mathematics, or anyone who enjoys thinking about how to make the impossible possible.
September 17, 2020
“Paradoxes” is a fascinating book that explores the essence of mathematics through, yes, paradoxes. The book talks about the history of these paradoxes, the people who explored them, their solutions and how they affect mathematics, physics and philosophy.
This book really inspired me to think about a lot of philosophical and logical questions, the paradoxes are captivating and it was very enjoyable to read.
Some of the subjects in the book are a bit complicated and can be difficult to understand but I would still recommend this book to anyone with an above elementary school knowledge at mathematics.
This book really inspired me to think about a lot of philosophical and logical questions, the paradoxes are captivating and it was very enjoyable to read.
Some of the subjects in the book are a bit complicated and can be difficult to understand but I would still recommend this book to anyone with an above elementary school knowledge at mathematics.
September 17, 2020
In an elegant and innovative way, Hamza Alsamraee has managed to paint a refreshing picture of philosophical mathematics in his latest work 'Paradoxes: Guiding Forces in Mathematical Exploration'. With paradoxes as the main focus, this book covers a wide range of topics where everything from abstract and challenging concepts like the Banach-Tarski paradox to more existential statistical matters are explored and explained in unique ways.
The book has affected me on a personal level - it reignited my interest in making science posters for myself. I actually have a few of the many delightful paradoxes covered in this book on my bedroom wall. :)
//Physics student at Lund University
The book has affected me on a personal level - it reignited my interest in making science posters for myself. I actually have a few of the many delightful paradoxes covered in this book on my bedroom wall. :)
//Physics student at Lund University
September 17, 2020
'Paradoxes: Guiding Forces in Mathematical Exploration' is a truly exceptional book written by Hamza Alsamraee. He delves into difficult topics such as the true nature of infinity and Gödel's Incompleteness Theorems (and many, many more) and gives detailed explanations of these complex ideas. Despite the unintuitive nature of such paradoxes, Hamza describes and explains them in such a way that it is easy, and fun for a reader, even lacking a background in mathematics, to understand! This book is an excellent choice for the reader who would like to expand his mathematical knowledge, or even just have a mental exercise!
September 18, 2020
The book offers a concise, well-paced walkthrough through various paradoxes at different timestamps in the history of mathematics. The book covers extensive material from various aspects of mathematics – from deceiving problems on infinity, to the struggle in coming up with complete systems to model and describe mathematics as a whole. The logic presented in the book, despite its user-friendly nature, was nowhere compromised, which lived up to the expectations and stakes in terms of rigour of mathematical arguments of a mathematics book (especially when this book discussed paradoxes, which demands meticulous examination, deduction and explanation).
While this book definitely suits the taste and needs of the math enthusiast, as mentioned, the book is made accessible to even the general reader with little background in the subject. Indeed, the book discusses pretty advanced topics in higher order mathematics (which literally requires a rich, solid background at undergraduate level at least to fully comprehend), yet the author phrases ideas and thoughts carefully, employing similes and analogies skilfully when deemed necessary to articulate difficult mathematical concepts and ideas.
Regarding the organisation and presentation of the book, the book is well structured to have different topics sorted according to their logical relationship, which simultaneously spans across several disciplines of the subjects. Each chapter presents mathematical proofs explicitly and clearly (when proofs are needed), and additional, extensive information on mathematicians or researchers are generously offered in each chapter to enrich the cultural discussion of the book.
Overall, this book is a memorable and delightful read.
While this book definitely suits the taste and needs of the math enthusiast, as mentioned, the book is made accessible to even the general reader with little background in the subject. Indeed, the book discusses pretty advanced topics in higher order mathematics (which literally requires a rich, solid background at undergraduate level at least to fully comprehend), yet the author phrases ideas and thoughts carefully, employing similes and analogies skilfully when deemed necessary to articulate difficult mathematical concepts and ideas.
Regarding the organisation and presentation of the book, the book is well structured to have different topics sorted according to their logical relationship, which simultaneously spans across several disciplines of the subjects. Each chapter presents mathematical proofs explicitly and clearly (when proofs are needed), and additional, extensive information on mathematicians or researchers are generously offered in each chapter to enrich the cultural discussion of the book.
Overall, this book is a memorable and delightful read.
September 17, 2020
The book Paradoxes: Guiding Forces in Mathematical Exploration is a really good material to read, both for beginners and advanced mathematicians. Paradoxes and stories are thoroughly explained and easy to understand, and are backed up with adequate pictures and examples. In my opinion, this book is perfect for anyone who wants to explore and look at math from a different angle. Thoughts are directed on paradoxal examples that make you think about the basics of math and philosophy, and ultimately toughens up your understanding of math.
September 15, 2020
Fantastic! 'Paradoxes: A Guiding Force in Mathematics' is an incredible book which wonderfully portrays the multi-faceted world of paradoxes. It explores a wide variety of topics, ranging from conundrums in mathematics and logic all the way to those of quantum mechanics and the statistics of modern medicine. Furthermore, the author's fluid and professional writing style allows the book to segue effortlessly from one section to the next. A truly well-written book!
September 17, 2020
'Paradoxes: A Guiding Force in Mathematics" explores paradoxes in a straightforward way, while providing examples that would entice math-newbies to explore deeper into more mathematical concepts. Even as a third-year math student, I found the way that Alsamraee explained topics to be simple and concise, making them easy to understand. Alsamraee's passion for math is evident- making the book hard to put down.
September 18, 2020
This book is just fantastic. When you are reading you will feel somebody is talking. It explains complex concepts easily with pictures and examples. Every part of the book introduces many intriguing concepts. The philosophical mathematics explained here is just marvelous. This book is for a large audience. From high school student to researchers (Even not in the field of mathematics) everyone can understand (Some of them may change their field to math after reading this).
September 18, 2020
This book is a remarkable one for those who find mathematics interesting, and want to learn more and search deeper. Hamza has touched exceptionally well on the fact that paradoxes shape one's mind and gives an insight and intuition on what mathematics is all about. This book is for those of you who's still not familiar with higher concepts in maths and who's purpose is to understand and conseptualize maths more. If this is you, this is your ideal Christmas or birthday present! - Rocco van Velden, university student.
September 18, 2020
If you are an enthusiast tired of the hefty books that cost a fortune and require a prerequisite degree, and desperate for a reader-friendly book, this is the one for you. It requires only a high school-level knowledge of mathematics. The paradoxes discussed in the book range from the two-thousand-year-old ones in the pure mathematical realm of logic to those found in applied statistics.
The pared-down narrative style of the author is truly engaging and thought- provoking, resulting in understanding and evaluating the concept simultaneously. Pictorial representation is employed wherever required to augment the reader's understanding. One of the many marvellous examples is how Russel's paradox is depicted through a barber shop. The book is amazing and really worth your time and dime.
The pared-down narrative style of the author is truly engaging and thought- provoking, resulting in understanding and evaluating the concept simultaneously. Pictorial representation is employed wherever required to augment the reader's understanding. One of the many marvellous examples is how Russel's paradox is depicted through a barber shop. The book is amazing and really worth your time and dime.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2020
The book "Paradoxes" introduces the reader to several paradoxes found in our world and explains them in an insightful and engaging manner. As a high school student who is interested in pursuing mathematics in the future, this book helped me deepen my understanding of various concepts such as calculus and geometry. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to better understand the paradoxes that have intrigued humanity for centuries!
September 18, 2020
This might be THE book for those of you who are getting farther and farther from the fun and cool world of mathematics. This book is perfect for getting a good understanding some of the core concepts of mathematics and it might just act for you to gear up in the journey of rediscovering mathematics. I recommend this to any individual willing to make their mathematical journey a little better and much more exciting. I sure would love to see more of Mr. Hamza.
September 18, 2020
As a mathematics education enthusiast, I admit that Paradoxes is such an eye-opener for everybody who has ever learned mathematics. I thought that this book will just contain some fun facts about mathematical paradoxes, but it is beyond that. What I love the most about this book is how it exposed the essence of mathematics, how the subject grows dynamically followed by numerous notions from the brightest thinkers in history, and how paradoxes exist as a result of a human’s powerful mind. Hamza succeeded to present every content of his book—that commonly explained rigorously and in a complicated manner—by using simple and interesting explanations that even a high school student can understand, of course without reducing the value of the content. This book is a must-read for every student who thought that mathematics is a boring subject and only a matter of calculations.
September 18, 2020
When I first picked up the book as a high school student right now, I thought to myself "This is going to be another mathematical book that's gonna be very deep and confusing." However, this is not the case in this book.
The book perfectly explains a lot of paradoxes and concepts in an understandable way with a wide range of topics discussed. Some of the paradoxes might be a bit confusing and get my head around, but after reading it a few times, researching about it, and understanding it, I find that the author explains the paradoxes very well once you've understood it.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who's interested in mathematics, paradoxes, probabilities, and statistics!
The book perfectly explains a lot of paradoxes and concepts in an understandable way with a wide range of topics discussed. Some of the paradoxes might be a bit confusing and get my head around, but after reading it a few times, researching about it, and understanding it, I find that the author explains the paradoxes very well once you've understood it.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who's interested in mathematics, paradoxes, probabilities, and statistics!
September 17, 2020
Overall opinion on the book: 7/10
Paradoxes is a very nice read for any mathematics enthusiasts. The first few paradoxes will be understandable to anybody with little or no knowledge in mathematics, whereas the later paradoxes become complex and can even require a second or third read to completely understand. The author does a good job of discussing the basics of each paradox, in a simple manner that makes the book a lot more enjoyable and simpler compared to most mathematics books. Highly recommend this book to anyone interested in statistics and probabilities.
Paradoxes is a very nice read for any mathematics enthusiasts. The first few paradoxes will be understandable to anybody with little or no knowledge in mathematics, whereas the later paradoxes become complex and can even require a second or third read to completely understand. The author does a good job of discussing the basics of each paradox, in a simple manner that makes the book a lot more enjoyable and simpler compared to most mathematics books. Highly recommend this book to anyone interested in statistics and probabilities.
September 18, 2020
Paradoxes is a masterpiece. It covers advanced topics in mathematics,
yet anyone (even the less experienced in mathematics) can understand the content
and learn a ton from it. That's the first time in my life that I read a book
in just 1 day. The book got me into ancient greek mathematics where the whole
subject started and the way they thought about numbers. The writer has done a
great job guiding the reader through the ages of mathematics and its impact on
society. I can't wait for his next book! Great job!
yet anyone (even the less experienced in mathematics) can understand the content
and learn a ton from it. That's the first time in my life that I read a book
in just 1 day. The book got me into ancient greek mathematics where the whole
subject started and the way they thought about numbers. The writer has done a
great job guiding the reader through the ages of mathematics and its impact on
society. I can't wait for his next book! Great job!
September 17, 2020
I was rather excited about this book when I first heard about it. It looked like so many other books I have read about math, in contrast to math books that I had to read for professional reasons. Unfortunately, this was where the excitement ended.
The book fails in accomplishing its primary goal: investigate the relation between paradoxes and the progress of mathematics and the reason seems to be the organization of the book. Most of the first paradoxes presented are simply to profound to be dealt with at that stage of the book and with the language used, even for educated readers (I have a PhD in micrometeorology). The inclusion of the quantum entanglement problem remains a mystery to me. Godel’s incompleteness theorem and Cantor’s approach to the cardinality of infinite sets are other examples. Although I (supposedly) understand the concepts, I got lost because the author never close matters in a conclusive way. Some strange examples are picked (bicep curls and flirting) and no closure is offered to the reader (here and throughout the text), leaving the impression that some of the paradoxes where never solved.
I guess the book may be a reasonable starting point for readers unused to the mathematical thinking. May be not, for there are lots of other books I would recommend instead. All in all, I recognize the author’s good intentions of bringing some intriguing paradoxes to the great public, but I suppose he could have been more careful with the organization of the material.
(Sorry for the bad English, I am a little rusty)
The book fails in accomplishing its primary goal: investigate the relation between paradoxes and the progress of mathematics and the reason seems to be the organization of the book. Most of the first paradoxes presented are simply to profound to be dealt with at that stage of the book and with the language used, even for educated readers (I have a PhD in micrometeorology). The inclusion of the quantum entanglement problem remains a mystery to me. Godel’s incompleteness theorem and Cantor’s approach to the cardinality of infinite sets are other examples. Although I (supposedly) understand the concepts, I got lost because the author never close matters in a conclusive way. Some strange examples are picked (bicep curls and flirting) and no closure is offered to the reader (here and throughout the text), leaving the impression that some of the paradoxes where never solved.
I guess the book may be a reasonable starting point for readers unused to the mathematical thinking. May be not, for there are lots of other books I would recommend instead. All in all, I recognize the author’s good intentions of bringing some intriguing paradoxes to the great public, but I suppose he could have been more careful with the organization of the material.
(Sorry for the bad English, I am a little rusty)
October 3, 2020
"Paradoxes" takes the reader on a journey through the many contradictions posed by different approaches to mathematics. Though some topics are more straightforward than others, the complexities are easy to follow with the author's guidance, even for those who are unfamiliar with some of the more advanced topics in this book. Any necessary background information you need on the more intimidating topics is well explained. As someone who currently works in a field where math isn't often touched on, I didn't realize that understanding paradoxes is fundamental to one's understanding of math. I wish I had learned math in a way that is as engaging and thought-provoking as this book.
Mathematics is so much more than just numbers and equations; this book does a fantastic job reminding us of exactly that. Whether you are someone who is just starting to explore their curiosity of math or an expert on the subject, "Paradoxes" is definitely worth the read.
Mathematics is so much more than just numbers and equations; this book does a fantastic job reminding us of exactly that. Whether you are someone who is just starting to explore their curiosity of math or an expert on the subject, "Paradoxes" is definitely worth the read.
September 27, 2020
Staying true to its name, Paradoxes: Guiding Forces in Mathematical Exploration by Hamza Alsamraee is a book that explores paradoxes from different facets of life and navigates through them in a clear and a reasonable path. The way in which the author deconstructs complex problems into simple components and builds them back over the course of the chapter ensures that the concept is conveyed clearly. The use of pictures and analogies throughout the book makes it easier to understand the basics and helps retain the information more easily. The more difficult parts of the book which require a solid background in mathematics also have been explained beautifully and articulately in such a way that even a person with little background in the subject will be able to grasp the fundamental idea behind it.
While the author has tried to explain difficult paradoxes such as Godel's Incompleteness Theorem which require a sound understanding of mathematics, the true essence of the paradox is not clearly conveyed due to the limitations of the level of mathematics used in the book. However, the inclusion of such paradoxes only deepens one's curiosity and sets them on an inquisitive path to learn more.
All in all, this book is a good starting point for people getting into Mathematics and Philosophy and is perfect for anyone interested in a casual read about Mathematics.
While the author has tried to explain difficult paradoxes such as Godel's Incompleteness Theorem which require a sound understanding of mathematics, the true essence of the paradox is not clearly conveyed due to the limitations of the level of mathematics used in the book. However, the inclusion of such paradoxes only deepens one's curiosity and sets them on an inquisitive path to learn more.
All in all, this book is a good starting point for people getting into Mathematics and Philosophy and is perfect for anyone interested in a casual read about Mathematics.
September 28, 2020
A must read! This is a great book on paradoxes in the mathematical world . Being a high school student myself and considering how much i enjoyed reading and grasping the concepts of this book , it's safe to say anybody with little to no prerequisite knowledge could enjoy yhe fruits of mathematical paradoxes thorough this book. " Paradoxes " is quite a broad term , often quite complex problems and self-contradictory situations fall under it , in this book the cases are extremely simplified and is very easy to understand comparatively to other books comparing paradoxical issues. This book will not fail to blow your mind even with the simple language and might even provide you with a different perspective of the mathematical world.
Give this book a try maybe you don't consider yourself to be a "math guy" but hey , nothing to common mathematical knowledge is required grasp the beautiful concepts of paradoxes in this book.
-subham
Give this book a try maybe you don't consider yourself to be a "math guy" but hey , nothing to common mathematical knowledge is required grasp the beautiful concepts of paradoxes in this book.
-subham
September 20, 2020
This book is very well written and at its core, it combines three things that I love about math: paradoxes, history of mathematics, and the future of mathematics. The author has beautifully explained each historical event as a timeline for how the concept was discovered or developed over time. In addition to this, he gives you an in-depth explanation as to why certain ideas are true (and explains why they shouldn't be). This makes the paradoxes more accessible by giving you not just one side view but two perspectives that allows you to get a better understanding on what's going on with these concepts.
I think this book is a great resource for anyone that wants to learn more about paradoxes. I have always been interested in the subject, so when I found out there was an entire book devoted only to them, I knew it was something I had to read. The author does a great job of explaining all the concepts and he actually explains why some of these paradoxes are true in such a way that makes sense.
The author explores many different topics from infinity and infinitesimals, through Zeno's paradoxes to Fermat's last theorem. The way he explains the mathematical concepts is very easy-to-understand and I'm sure everyone will find this book intriguing. Moreover, unlike most other books on the subject (which are often too long) Paradoxes has been designed for the average reader who wants an enjoyable read without having studied advanced calculus or linear algebra beforehand.
All-in-all, this is one of my favorite math books and it's perfect for anyone who loves math as much as me or even if you're just looking for something new!
I think this book is a great resource for anyone that wants to learn more about paradoxes. I have always been interested in the subject, so when I found out there was an entire book devoted only to them, I knew it was something I had to read. The author does a great job of explaining all the concepts and he actually explains why some of these paradoxes are true in such a way that makes sense.
The author explores many different topics from infinity and infinitesimals, through Zeno's paradoxes to Fermat's last theorem. The way he explains the mathematical concepts is very easy-to-understand and I'm sure everyone will find this book intriguing. Moreover, unlike most other books on the subject (which are often too long) Paradoxes has been designed for the average reader who wants an enjoyable read without having studied advanced calculus or linear algebra beforehand.
All-in-all, this is one of my favorite math books and it's perfect for anyone who loves math as much as me or even if you're just looking for something new!
September 25, 2020
In 'Paradoxes: Guiding Forces in Mathematical Exploration', author Hamza Alsamraee discusses the wonders of paradoxes in a way that is enjoyable for both professional and novice math enthusiasts. One aspect of this book that I loved was that not only did it described the paradoxes and their applications in much detail, but it also outlined the history of each paradox as well. It was very interesting to trace these mathematical theories in time, and to see how a mathematician influenced another. This book also has many graphics and figures to help follow along with these mathematical theories (ex. visualizing that some infinities are larger than others). Overall, this kept the book engaging and made it very fun to read.
As a Computer Science and Robotics Engineering major entering my second year, reading this book helped me think in different ways and even helped with some aspects of my coursework. After finishing this, it reinforced my love for math and made me appreciate the fields that I study in even more. I recommend 'Paradoxes: Guiding Forces in Mathematical Exploration' to anyone who enjoys hard thinking, or have an innate love for math and logic.
As a Computer Science and Robotics Engineering major entering my second year, reading this book helped me think in different ways and even helped with some aspects of my coursework. After finishing this, it reinforced my love for math and made me appreciate the fields that I study in even more. I recommend 'Paradoxes: Guiding Forces in Mathematical Exploration' to anyone who enjoys hard thinking, or have an innate love for math and logic.
September 29, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it to anyone who loves to question. The book not only focuses on mathematical paradoxes but the philosophy and history behind them, which makes it a really good book for people with and without a mathematics background, you just need to be inquisitive. I’ve found Maths in formal education to be often technical but this is a wonderful book to actually enjoy the beauty in maths and how it ties into the mechanics of the world. It’s written in an easy way to follow and captures your attention throughout. I highly recommend this read.
September 26, 2020
“Paradoxes” is unlike any other popular maths book. The book delves into all the main branches of mathematics, and not only tackles paradoxes and how to solve them but also gives an insight on the beauty of mathematics, and how every aspect of it links to our everyday life. It was remarkable to be presented with concepts that initially came across as challenging, but which were explained thoroughly in a way that made them understandable. “Paradoxes” is a must-read for everyone, no matter your experience in the field, and it was a delightful experience not just to develop my way of thinking about paradoxical ideas, but to also be humbled by the great minds who have made mathematics what it is today.
September 20, 2020
Reading the book Paradoxes was a fun experience. All these mathematical theories pushed me to really think out of the box - I found myself stopping every now and then to let the words sink in and allow my thoughts to run deep in the topic. Some paradoxes discussed were a bit convoluted, but the book helps a lot in explaining it with diagrams and similes that are easy to comprehend. The book is mostly theoretical, sometimes just pure speculation- but the questions posed are answered in such a thorough and logical way that it makes perfect sense. If you're a newbie in the field of mathematics, not to worry! There's also an appendix at the end of the book which will help you create basic concepts of all kinds of mathematical theories discussed in the book. I highly recommend this book to math-lovers, both young college students and senior professors in the field, as it is completely comprehensive and it really gives you food for thought to construe mathematical paradoxes. If you ever read this book, I encourage you to try answering the questions posed in the book yourself before reading ahead as it really challenges your logic and analytical skills.
September 30, 2020
Philosophical lover and mathematical intellectual, Hamza E. Alsamraee, brought paradoxes into new perspective in his new book (one of more to come), Paradoxes: Guiding Forces in Mathematical Exploration. He takes you on a journey to understand the logic behind mind-blowing paradoxes we all hear about but never fully understand.
The book explains how paradoxes were born from a mathematician’s point of view, what infinity really is, geometry and statistical paradoxes, and we get to know well-known mathematicians and their reasoning behind their work. The explanations are clear and logical. This is great for all types of readers, even non-mathematical lovers. Hamza walks the reader through each paradox and its purpose. You will learn about new definitions and theories that will let you think in a mathematical way. Is 0.999… equal to one? Are some infinities bigger than others? Why do attractive people seem meaner? This book is stacked with fun!
I highly recommend this book to all who love mathematical brain teasers and have a sense of adventure. This book will surely entertain your intellect and keep your interest all the way. It is engaging, satisfactory and logical. - Claudia van Niekerk, Mechanical Engineering student at North-West University, South Africa.
The book explains how paradoxes were born from a mathematician’s point of view, what infinity really is, geometry and statistical paradoxes, and we get to know well-known mathematicians and their reasoning behind their work. The explanations are clear and logical. This is great for all types of readers, even non-mathematical lovers. Hamza walks the reader through each paradox and its purpose. You will learn about new definitions and theories that will let you think in a mathematical way. Is 0.999… equal to one? Are some infinities bigger than others? Why do attractive people seem meaner? This book is stacked with fun!
I highly recommend this book to all who love mathematical brain teasers and have a sense of adventure. This book will surely entertain your intellect and keep your interest all the way. It is engaging, satisfactory and logical. - Claudia van Niekerk, Mechanical Engineering student at North-West University, South Africa.
September 23, 2020
'Paradoxes: A Guiding Force in Mathematics' is a well-written book which portrays how expressions of curiosity regarding the rigidity of a logical framework became one of the driving forces in the developement of the natural sciences. It illustrates this underlying philosophy through a plethora of easily understandable examples of how paradoxes have affected various fields in the natural sciences, ranging from mathematics, statistics and logic to physics and medicine.
All in all, this book stands as testament to its author's knowledge and passion as a mathematics communicator, and is a great read for people of different mathematical backgrounds.
All in all, this book stands as testament to its author's knowledge and passion as a mathematics communicator, and is a great read for people of different mathematical backgrounds.
September 21, 2020
Paradoxes: A new insight into mathematics.
The book takes the reader through a wonderful journey across different topics of math by giving a wonderful insight into how these paradoxes shaped today’s mathematics. It not only presents an elegant description of the paradox but also gives a historical account and how it can be connected to the real-life scenario. Each topic serves as a brain teaser and increases the curiosity of the reader. Paradoxes are kind of stuff that needs a clear understanding to cherish its essence, in which case this book is a good choice. It is a must red book for all kinds of people including those from the non-mathematical background. It definitely will give the reader a new insight into the subject and makes fall them to fall deeper in love with the subject.
The book takes the reader through a wonderful journey across different topics of math by giving a wonderful insight into how these paradoxes shaped today’s mathematics. It not only presents an elegant description of the paradox but also gives a historical account and how it can be connected to the real-life scenario. Each topic serves as a brain teaser and increases the curiosity of the reader. Paradoxes are kind of stuff that needs a clear understanding to cherish its essence, in which case this book is a good choice. It is a must red book for all kinds of people including those from the non-mathematical background. It definitely will give the reader a new insight into the subject and makes fall them to fall deeper in love with the subject.
September 21, 2020
If you have any love for mathematics and for the history of mathematics, then I would highly recommend this book. Yes, the book is not about the history of math, however, it gives paradoxes that will make you rethink your whole understanding of mathematics and the principles that you have learnt just the way the mathematicians of those times had to think of things. This book does an excellent job at explaining the paradoxes no matter if you are brilliant at mathematics or a beginner at mathematics. Have not done that section in maths yet? Don't worry, the book gives all the details you need to know in order to understand everything. I highly suggest this book to anyone who either loves mathematics or has an inquisitive mind relating to the principles.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews