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Her "More Joy of Mathematics" shows a vast amount of instances of where math shows up, some math history, and a few visual brain teasers. What are some currently unsolved problems in mathematics. Many have sadly been led to believe that math is a cold, lifeless subject limited only to homework assignments and balancing your checkbook. What math can be found in an ocean wave, the strength of a honeycomb pattern, or a nautilus shell. Plus it has a single index listing the topics from both this book and the previous one, so if you buy both it's easy to find the article you want by only looking it up once. How are exponents involved in the forging that creates a powerful Samuri sword. Is zero really a "number", and where does the concept come from.
The same goes for "Joy of Mathematics" so you don't necessarily have to read that one first; they just contain different sets of examples. Nothing could be further from the truth, and Pappas books show this. A total layman could understand most of the book, but to understand all the mini essays you might at least want to have knowledge of math at the high school level.The book is a fast read, and fun to flip back and forth through, because each example is summarized in its own 1 or 2 page section, with illustrations. How do the properties of an elipse make your car's headlights switch to high-beam. How is math vital to the contruction of musical instruments. And don't think that all the good ideas were already taken for the first book -- "More Joy of Mathematics" is just as exciting to read. Perfect gift for a math enthusiast at any level, and it may even covert a few "mathphobes".
Pappas communicates mathematical ideas clearly and, unlike some mathematicians, stresses their relation to the lives and experiences of humans. If you enjoyed Pappas' "The Joy of Mathematics," then you should love this addition to the set. She reveals the appealing aspects of the subject by excluding the technical, logical deductions that most frequently discourage people from studying it. This book, like its predecessor, contains a diverse collection of concise, insightful discussions about mathematical topics and how they relate to the observed world. It develops ideas with an elegant simplicity by providing the reader with copious amounts of illustrations and diagrams. The variety of topics presented in the book displays the versatility of mathematics and its relevance to human knowledge. For students interested in exploring the meaning and significance of mathematics or for teachers lacking the necessary materials to enlighten their students about these topics, this book is ideal.
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