Coincidences, Chaos and All That Math Jazz Making Light of Weighty Ideas

By: EB Burger and M Starbird

288 pages, illus

Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co.

Coincidences, Chaos and All That Math Jazz

Click to have a closer look

ISBN: 9780393329315 Paperback Oct 2006 Out of stock with supplier: order now to get this when available
£20.99
#162166

Price: £20.99

About this book Customer reviews Biography

Images Additional images

About this book

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 shows that surprising coincidences such as the amazing parallels between the Lincoln and Kennedy assassinations are sure to happen.

Customer Reviews

Review this book

Biography

EDWARD B. BURGER (Williams College, Massachussetts) and MICHAEL STARBIRD (University of Texas at Austin) are award-winning professors, authors and speakers.

By: EB Burger and M Starbird

288 pages, illus

Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co.

Media reviews

...Burger and Starbird are such engaging communicators that they make the subject fascinating. With clear and witty explanations... they shed welcome light on a weighty subject. Publishing News "Math Jazz is, as its name suggests, a medley of absorbing mathematical diversions, from two professors who know how to hold an audience. Their maths is rooted firmly in the real world - if you include extra dimensions. Expect presidential assassinations, origami and some decidedly quirky illustrations... No maths degree needed; just add grey matter." Ben Longstaff, New Scientist"

Current promotions