From the Publisher
A revealing look at the variety of methods used by advertisers, politicians and corporations to mislead and manipulate the public by means of fancy mathematical footwork. A prominent mathematics author and columnist shows how this mathematical abuse is accomplished, how to recognize it and avoid it. Contains hundreds of actual examples of mathematical chicanery. The last chapter provides further explanations of the mathematics underlying the manipulators covered in each chapter.
From the Inside Flap
200% of Nothing In this delightfully witty excursion into the world of mathematical manipulation, popular columnist and math whiz A. K. Dewdney unveils the vast array of ways in which numbers are twisted and statistics are turned in order to fool the unsuspecting public. From the case of the "Incredible Expanding Toyota" to that of the "National Security Googol," Dewdney exposes the slick tricks and subtle schemes used by advertisers, politicians, special interest lobbyists, stockbrokers, car dealers, and just about anybody who tries to impress us with numbers, charts, and graphs. At turns funny and infuriating, Two Hundred Percent of Nothing is packed with real-life examples from the worlds of advertising, government, business, and media that demonstrate all types of math abuses. Dewdney identifies them by name, from "number bludgeoning" to "occult sampling" and shows us exactly how they play upon our innumeracythe common inability to understand the rules of percentages, ratios, statistics, and basic math logic. You may want to buy the halogen light bulbs that an ad claims will save you 200% on energy costs, until Dewdney points out that its impossible to save any more than 100% of something. And you may never want to play the lottery again when you learn that your chances of winning are mathematically equivalent whether you play or not. Why should we be skeptical of 4 out of 5 dentists surveyed? Whats the bull behind the bull market? Do statistics really prove its safer to fly than drive across country? When would financing a car through a dealer be a bad deal? With the wry wit and professorial wisdom that made his math column a favorite among Scientific American readers for nearly a decade, Dewdney gives the answers. Furthermore, he explains the basic math behind the answers so that the next time you see mathematical chicanery, youll recognize it. Though you may be shocked at how pervasive math abuse is, you may be even more astonished to discover how rapidly you can learn the simple tricks and basic logic of defending yourself against it. As Dewdney writes in his Introduction: "It is far easier to calculate a percentage than it is to drive a car." Math abusers are every-where, but with Dewdneys shrewd pointers, you can easily catch them at their own game.
From the Back Cover
Acclaim for 200% of Nothing. Marvelous, witty. . .. It is impossible to read this timely, important book without enjoyment and eye-opening enlightenment." —Martin Gardner.
"In today's world, 'innumeracy' is an even greater danger than illiteracy, and is perhaps even more common. Advertisers and politicians exploit it; intellectuals (self-styled) even flaunt it. I hope that this wise and witty book will provide cures where they are possible, and warnings where they are necessary. "It's also a lot of fun. I can guarantee that 100%." —Arthur C. Clarke.
"Dewdney retells with charm and wit magnificent morsels of mathematical mayhem discovered by his army of volunteer 'abuse detectives.' From 'sample trashing' to 'numerical terrorism,' from 'percentage pumping' to 'dimensional dementia,' 200% of Nothing plumbs the depths of innumeracy in daily life and reveals what ordinary people can do about it. A rich, readable, instructive and persuasive book." —Lynn Arthur Steen, Professor of Mathematics, St. Olaf College
About the Author
A. K. Dewdney, Ph.D., is Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Western Ontario. Well known for his popular "Mathematical Recreations" column, which ran in Scientific American for more than eight years, he is also the author of several books, including The Armchair Universe and The Planiverse: Computer Contact with a Two-Dimensional World.
