Improbable? Yes. Impossible? Noan irreverent, entertaining, readable, and completely understandable explanation of lofty mathematical ideas.
By starting in the familiar world and using a few simple steps of imagination, Edward B. Burger and Michael Starbird sneak up on weighty mathematical ideas. The spirals on a pineapple quickly lead to the famous Fibonacci numbers and the alluring Golden Ratio and from there to aesthetic forms in nature, art, and music. The edge of a twisted strip of paper leads to an image of the shape of the universe. Playing with the notion of probability demonstrates that surprising coincidences such as the amazing parallels between the Lincoln and Kennedy assassinations are sure to happen. These and other foreign and familiar mysteries share two featuresthey appear inexplicable and they are all explained with great humor and clarity in this book. Perhaps the greatest surprise is that these travels require no math background. If you never thought you would read about mathematics, this book is for you. 160 illustrations.
- ISBN10 0393059456
- ISBN13 9780393059458
- Publish Date 16 September 2005
- Publish Status Inactive
- Out of Print 15 August 2012
- Publish Country US
- Imprint WW Norton & Co
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 288
- Language English