If you have ever wondered what makes mathematics so fascinating to a mathematician, this may be the book for you. Wells, a British teacher and author of several books of problems and popular mathematics, leads you through topics in geometry, theory of numbers, games, and scientific modeling. In each chapter, the author works upward from simple, specific examples to greater levels of generalization, demonstrating clearly the way new results are actually discovered by mathematicians. He expects only a background in high school algebra and a willingness to put in some effort. Each section contains a number of problems (solutions are found at the end) to challenge the reader, so it is wise to read this book with pencil and paper handy. For popular mathematics collections.?Harold D. Shane, Baruch Coll., CUNY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
As the title suggests, Wells expects readers to do more than passively absorb the information he presents in this insightful survey of fundamental mathematical concepts. Dozens of illustrative brainteasers challenge readers to flex their own mathematical muscles as they read about the feats of the discipline's superstars, from Euclid to Euler. (It may console readers defeated by the harder puzzles to learn that giants such as Descartes, Leibniz, and Gauss have published erroneous work and that some centuries-old conundrums continue to vex and confound the best contemporary mathematicians.) But besides introducing us to fascinating personalities, Wells explains how a mathematician probes for a solution or constructs a proof, why a mathematician cannot use the same tools as a scientist, and why humans still outperform computers in perceiving hidden geometric relationships. For the nonmathematican looking for a helpful and entertaining guidebook to the wondrous world of numbers, here it is. Bryce Christensen
From the Publisher
This is a comprehensive introduction into the fascinating world of mathematics that includes anecdotes and facts from math history as well as brief profiles of the great mathematicians. Includes over 100 brainteasing puzzles and problems with solutions at the end of each chapter.
From the Inside Flap
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 mathaficionado 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.
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 Knigsberg 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.
About the Author
DAVID WELLS is the author of numerous books of mathematical puzzles and general math, including the popular Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers and The Guinness Book of Brainteasers. He has contributed articles to The Times Educational Supplement, The Mathematical Intelligencer, and The Mathematical Gazette. Mr. Wells lives in Beckenham, England.
