- Paperback: 432 pages
- Publisher: Penguin (26 Oct 1995)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 014017480X
- ISBN-13: 978-0140174809
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 557,678 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
From the Back Cover
What is the largest number less than 1?
If x and y are any of two different positive numbers, which is larger, x2 + y2 or 2xy?
What do you get if you cross a cube and an octahedron?
Discover the surprising answers as David Wells conclusively proves that: you Are a mathematician
Praise for David Wells′s
The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers.
"This is a fascinating, strange, and probably unique book, one that I will look at again and again. As soon as I had taken a good look at it, I went out and bought three more copies to give to friends." —New Scientist.
"David Wells′s book about curious and interesting numbers is a quirky classic." —William Dunham Author, Journey Through Genius.
Are you on friendly terms with numbers? You will be after reading this delightful introduction to the fascinating and challenging world of mathematics. Bestselling author David Wells, a Cambridge math scholar and former teacher, explores the many patterns, properties —and problems —associated with numbers in a witty, thoroughly engaging style that is both entertaining and informative. Whether you are a math aficionado or whether you, as the author puts it, "panic and start sweating at the sight of a sum," Wells makes one point abundantly clear: You Are a Mathematician.
From basic arithmetic to algebraic equations, from the purely practical to the abstract, this is an ideal guide to the potential and pleasures of math. Surprising patterns emerge from the simplest groupings of numbers. The many secrets hidden inside of triangles are revealed, as are the origins of a host of mathematical theories and principles, from Aristotle to Euclid and Galileo. On a journey from the ancient Greeks to quantum theory, Wells shares intriguing anecdotes from history, such as how eighteenth–century European military commanders calculated how many cannonballs their enemies had stacked up next to their cannons.
David Wells invites us to discover the sense of wonder and fun that is so much a part of mathematics. Mathematical thinking is often very much like a game, relying on cunning tactics, deep strategy, and brilliant combinations as much as on observation, analogy, and informed guesswork. To illustrate, Wells includes over 100 brainteasing puzzles and problems, ranging from Ptolemy′s theorem to Euler′s famous solution to the Königsberg bridge problem and Koch′s snowflake curve. Modern–day computer buffs will also enjoy the underground classic, the Game of Life, invented by Princeton mathematician John Conway.
Offering a comprehensive and stimulating look at the myriad aspects of mathematics —whether as a household helper or an invaluable tool of science —You Are a Mathematician covers a wide range of topics and applications. It is an ideal guide to the potential and pleasures to be found in math. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
David Wells has written extensively on problems and popular mathematics, and many of his titles are available in Penguin. He is involved in education through writing and research, and lives in the United Kingdom.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Jake Hardy was standing on the river bank, looking across to the far side. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Jake Hardy was standing on the river bank, looking across to the far side. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
David Wells addresses a selection of mathemtical topics with an approach guided by his belief that "mathematics is not a spectator sport".
Topics include results from geometry, number theory, topology and cominatorics. The text includes problems which encourage the reader to think further about each topic, together with full solutions for all problems at the end of each chapter. Most proofs are accessible to anyone with high school mathematics - there is very little calculus in the book - yet many of the results will be new to a high school student. The proof of the 9-point circle theorem, for example, is breath taking in its clarity and simplicity.
This book was one of two which rekindled my own interest in mathemtics which had lain dormant for many years.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed this book to a point. It deals with some very interesting aspects of mathematics, ones that I may never have explored had I not read the book. I am not a mathematician, but I do have an interest in science and found a lot of the subject matter interesting. Regrettably, I did not find the writing very good - the subjects are engaging, but the author isn't. I didn't think the author explained things well at all, and in the end I understood what he was trying to convey in spite of and not because of him. Wish I could recommend a better author, but other books I have read do not cover quite the same range as this one, and the subject matter, if not the delivery, is worth your attention.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is a very intense look at mathematics; however,
it is not so far out of reach that the average persion
couldn't understand. It doesn't take more than a high
school understanding of some basic algebra and
geometry to truly enjoy this book. But be warned! This
book is tough, and best tackled with plenty of scrap
paper to try some of the problems. If you complete the
book, you will have learned some very clever problem-
solving skills.
it is not so far out of reach that the average persion
couldn't understand. It doesn't take more than a high
school understanding of some basic algebra and
geometry to truly enjoy this book. But be warned! This
book is tough, and best tackled with plenty of scrap
paper to try some of the problems. If you complete the
book, you will have learned some very clever problem-
solving skills.
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