Alex's Adventures in Numberland

Alex's Adventures in Numberland PDF

Author: Alex Bellos

Publisher: A&C Black

Published: 2010-04-05

Total Pages: 449

ISBN-13: 1408811146

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A tenth anniversary edition of the iconic book about the wonderful world of maths Sunday Times bestseller | Shortlisted for the BBC Samuel Johnson Prize 'Original and highly entertaining' Sunday Times 'A page turner about humanity's strange, never easy and, above all, never dull relationship with numbers' New Scientist 'Will leave you hooked on numbers' Daily Telegraph In this richly entertaining and accessible book, Alex Bellos explodes the myth that maths is best left to the geeks, and demonstrates the remarkable ways it's linked to our everyday lives. Alex explains the surprising geometry of the 50p piece, and the strategy of how best to gamble it in a casino. He shines a light on the mathematical patterns in nature, and on the peculiar predictability of random behaviour. He eats a potato crisp whose revolutionary shape was unpalatable to the ancient Greeks, and he shows the deep connections between maths, religion and philosophy. From the world's fastest mental calculators in Germany to numerologists in the US desert, from a startlingly numerate chimpanzee in Japan to venerable Hindu sages in India, these dispatches from 'Numberland' are an unlikely but exhilarating cocktail of history, reportage and mathematical proofs. The world of maths is a much friendlier and more colourful place than you might have imagined. This anniversary edition is fully revised and updated.

Here's Looking at Euclid

Here's Looking at Euclid PDF

Author: Alex Bellos

Publisher: Free Press

Published: 2011-04-19

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781416588283

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Too often math gets a bad rap, characterized as dry and difficult. But, Alex Bellos says, "math can be inspiring and brilliantly creative. Mathematical thought is one of the great achievements of the human race, and arguably the foundation of all human progress. The world of mathematics is a remarkable place." Bellos has traveled all around the globe and has plunged into history to uncover fascinating stories of mathematical achievement, from the breakthroughs of Euclid, the greatest mathematician of all time, to the creations of the Zen master of origami, one of the hottest areas of mathematical work today. Taking us into the wilds of the Amazon, he tells the story of a tribe there who can count only to five and reports on the latest findings about the math instinct—including the revelation that ants can actually count how many steps they’ve taken. Journeying to the Bay of Bengal, he interviews a Hindu sage about the brilliant mathematical insights of the Buddha, while in Japan he visits the godfather of Sudoku and introduces the brainteasing delights of mathematical games. Exploring the mysteries of randomness, he explains why it is impossible for our iPods to truly randomly select songs. In probing the many intrigues of that most beloved of numbers, pi, he visits with two brothers so obsessed with the elusive number that they built a supercomputer in their Manhattan apartment to study it. Throughout, the journey is enhanced with a wealth of intriguing illustrations, such as of the clever puzzles known as tangrams and the crochet creation of an American math professor who suddenly realized one day that she could knit a representation of higher dimensional space that no one had been able to visualize. Whether writing about how algebra solved Swedish traffic problems, visiting the Mental Calculation World Cup to disclose the secrets of lightning calculation, or exploring the links between pineapples and beautiful teeth, Bellos is a wonderfully engaging guide who never fails to delight even as he edifies. Here’s Looking at Euclid is a rare gem that brings the beauty of math to life.

The Grapes of Math

The Grapes of Math PDF

Author: Alex Bellos

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2014-06-10

Total Pages: 352

ISBN-13: 1451640129

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From triangles, rotations and power laws, to cones, curves and the dreaded calculus, Alex takes you on a journey of mathematical discovery with his signature wit and limitless enthusiasm. He sifts through over 30,000 survey submissions to uncover the world’s favourite number, and meets a mathematician who looks for universes in his garage. He attends the World Mathematical Congress in India, and visits the engineer who designed the first roller-coaster loop. Get hooked on math as Alex delves deep into humankind’s turbulent relationship with numbers, and reveals how they have shaped the world we live in.

Snowflake, Seashell, Star

Snowflake, Seashell, Star PDF

Author: Alex Bellos

Publisher:

Published: 2015-09-24

Total Pages: 120

ISBN-13: 9781782117889

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Bestselling author of Alex's Adventures in Numberland joins the meditative colouring book craze with this mathematical colouring book.

Alex's Adventures in Numberland

Alex's Adventures in Numberland PDF

Author: Alex Bellos

Publisher: A&C Black

Published: 2011-04-04

Total Pages: 450

ISBN-13: 1408809591

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The world of maths can seem mind-boggling, irrelevant and, let's face it, boring. This groundbreaking book reclaims maths from the geeks. Mathematical ideas underpin just about everything in our lives: from the surprising geometry of the 50p piece to how probability can help you win in any casino. In search of weird and wonderful mathematical phenomena, Alex Bellos travels across the globe and meets the world's fastest mental calculators in Germany and a startlingly numerate chimpanzee in Japan. Packed with fascinating, eye-opening anecdotes, Alex's Adventures in Numberland is an exhilarating cocktail of history, reportage and mathematical proofs that will leave you awestruck.

Can You Solve My Problems?

Can You Solve My Problems? PDF

Author: Alex Bellos

Publisher: Guardian Faber Publishing

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781783351145

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A high-class puzzle book from the bestselling author of Alex's Adventures in Numberland; organised from easy-peasy to ninja level - with stories of puzzle mysteries, histories and scandals along the way this book will make your hippocampus happy.

Patterns of the Universe

Patterns of the Universe PDF

Author: Alex Bellos

Publisher: The Experiment

Published: 2015-12-01

Total Pages: 148

ISBN-13: 1615193235

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"A coloring book that reveals math's hidden beauty and contemplative power as never before with 78 coloring designs and games that explore symmetry, fractals, tessellations, randomness, and more."--

Pele: The Autobiography

Pele: The Autobiography PDF

Author: Pelé

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2008-09-04

Total Pages: 365

ISBN-13: 1847394884

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Even people who don't know football know Pelé. The best of a generation of Brazilian players universally acknowledged as the most accomplished and attractive group of footballers ever to play the game, he won the World Cup three times and is Brazil's all-time record goalscorer. But how did this man -- a sportsman, a mere footballer, like many others -- become a global icon? Was it just by being the best at what he did, or do people respond to some other quality? The world's greatest footballer now gives us the full story of his incredible life and career. Told with his characteristic grace and modesty, but covering all aspects of his playing days and his subsequent careers as politician, international sporting ambassador and cultural icon, PELE: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY is an essential volume for all sports fans, and anyone who admires true rarity of spirit.

Exploring the Land of Ooo

Exploring the Land of Ooo PDF

Author: Paul A. Thomas

Publisher: Univ. Press of Mississippi

Published: 2023-08-16

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13: 1496846702

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Exploring the Land of Ooo: An Unofficial Overview and Production History of Cartoon Network’s "Adventure Time" is a guide through the colorful and exuberant animated television series that initially aired from 2010 to 2018. Created by visionary artist Pendleton Ward, the series was groundbreaking and is credited by many with heralding in a new golden age of animation. Known for its distinct sense of humor, bold aesthetic choices, and memorable characters, Adventure Time has amassed a fan-following of teenagers and young adults in addition to children. Popularly and critically acclaimed, the show netted three Annie awards, eight Emmys, and a coveted Peabody. In this thorough overview, author Paul A. Thomas explores the nuances of Adventure Time’s characters, production history, ancillary media, and vibrant fandom. Based in part on interviews with dozens of the creative individuals who made the show possible, the volume comprises a captivating mix of oral history and primary source analysis. With fresh insight, the book considers the show’s guest-directed episodes, outlines its most famous songs, and explores how its characters were created and cast. Written for fans and scholars alike, Exploring the Land of Ooo ensures that, when it comes to Adventure Time, the fun truly will never end.

Colouring Adventures in Numberland

Colouring Adventures in Numberland PDF

Author: Alex Bellos

Publisher:

Published: 2017-04-06

Total Pages: 144

ISBN-13: 9781408888988

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A 'mathemagical' colouring book, with 60 patterns to colour and 10 more that YOU create!For those who ponder the most intriguing questions in maths, the realm of numbers is not only visual but also beautiful. What does a sphere look like in four dimensions? How can a knight on a chessboard visit every square? And can a five-sided tile cover an infinite floor?Visions of Numberland unlocks the world's greatest mathematical mysteries, with 70 patterns to colour in. The friendly explanations next to each pattern unlock the secrets of an intellectual quest that has been underway for three thousand years - but no maths knowledge is required. Anyone can be an artist in Numberland!