cover image The Math Behind... Discover the Mathematics of Everyday Events

The Math Behind... Discover the Mathematics of Everyday Events

Colin Beveridge. Firefly, $24.95 trade paper (192p) ISBN 978-1-77085-998-2

Mathematician, teacher and author Beveridge (Basic Maths for Dummies) does what he sets out to and shows that numbers can be fun and friendly in this entertaining book. Math lovers and the math-averse alike will be fascinated by Beveridge’s explanations of how the digits of pi can and have been used to write poetry, how the Alhambra Palace in Spain employs geometry and patterns to create optical illusions, and how computer programs scan for plagiarism in college assignments and Shakespeare. The writing is light and amusing, and Beveridge presents the material in a deceptively simple fashion despite the complex principles often involved. The topics are organized into broad categories: the human world, the natural world, technology, sports, entertainment, getting around, and the everyday. Within each chapter, Beveridge explains the math involved in diverse subjects, such as the stock market, elections, tennis, Monopoly, and car crashes. Charts, diagrams, graphs, and other illustrations proliferate and are helpful in breaking down potentially difficult concepts. Whether readers are math geeks looking for new ways of applying mathematics principles or just curious to see how math might actually be applicable in everyday life, this fun, enlightening book will not disappoint. (Oct.)