Customer Reviews

Go Figure!: Using Math to Answer Everyday Imponderables

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Author presents a novel selection from mathematics and physics, with many linked to scientific calculator experimentation, from which the appropriately equipped reader may learn. Carbon dating, factorial growth, pyramid schemes, and solar system mechanics are among the areas discussed, all in a lively fashion. Though some topics are advanced, many are presented in a suitably elementary fashion. Unfortunately, the book is marred by numerous serious errors, of which a striking example is the following miscasting of Goldbach's famous conjecture: "no one has ever found a number greater than 2 that could not be expressed as the sum of two prime numbers". (Try 11.) Others, such as the treatment of factorials, evidence faulty logic, a tin ear, misuse of common technical terms, and weak pedagogy. Readers encountering the material for the first time may be stimulated, but will also be misled and, likely, confused. A new printing is said to be in the works, so interested readers are advised to await its appearance before considering a purchase.

The previous critics seem to be a little harsh. What makes a popular math book good is to be everything a textbook is not. That is, it should show lots of examples of what math can be used FOR, with little emphasis on pedantic matters (such as rationalizing the denominator). This book fits the bill. It has examples that people would like to USE, such as figuring their loan payments and predicting how tall their child will grow. It also shows some interesting new connections, showing how the gravitaional formula can be used to predict how many phone calls occur between cities. I think that most people who are curious about if there is more to math than what they learned in school, will enjoy this book.

I was going to buy this book for my son majoring in math, but the topics are either too mundane or not addressed in a useful way. I must agree with reviewer #1 and hope that a revision is corrected and improved. How about addressing how pi was incorported in pyramid building when the Egyptians did not know about it?