The Best Writing on Mathematics 2011
Published on 27. November 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
416 pages
978-0-691-15315-5 (ISBN)
Description
This anthology brings together the year's finest mathematics writing from around the world. Featuring promising new voices alongside some of the foremost names in the field, "The Best Writing on Mathematics 2011" makes available to a wide audience many articles not easily found anywhere else - and you don't need to be a mathematician to enjoy them. These writings offer surprising insights into the nature, meaning, and practice of mathematics today. They delve into the history, philosophy, teaching, and everyday occurrences of math, and take readers behind the scenes of today's hottest mathematical debates. Here Ian Hacking discusses the salient features that distinguish mathematics from other disciplines of the mind; Doris Schattschneider identifies some of the mathematical inspirations of M. C. Escher's art; Jordan Ellenberg describes compressed sensing, a mathematical field that is reshaping the way people use large sets of data; Erica Klarreich reports on the use of algorithms in the job market for doctors; and much, much more.
In addition to presenting the year's most memorable writings on mathematics, this must-have anthology includes a foreword by esteemed physicist and mathematician Freeman Dyson. This book belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in where math has taken us - and where it is headed.
In addition to presenting the year's most memorable writings on mathematics, this must-have anthology includes a foreword by esteemed physicist and mathematician Freeman Dyson. This book belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in where math has taken us - and where it is headed.
Reviews / Votes
"Mathematics instructor Pitici turns out a second volume of unexpectedly fascinating mathematical research, musings, and studies that explore subjects from art to medicine... From a discussion of the utility of mathematics in stone and bronze sculptures to a study of computing and its interaction with the sciences, readers from many disciplines will find much to pique their interest."--Publishers Weekly "This wonderful book is not just a collection of essays; there are also references including a list of notable texts, links to mathematics websites, and biographies of the contributors, which may prove to be as valuable to the reader as the essays themselves. The Best Writing on Mathematics 2011 cannot be recommended highly enough!"--Robert Schaefer, New York Journal of Books "[E]ntertaining and informative."--Ian D. Gordon, Library Journal "I invite the reader of this review to read the book; it contains many more interesting aspects of the interplay between mathematics and the real life than the ones I can explain."--European Mathematical Society "The volume is a single-shot source to keep in touch with all that is going on in the world of mathematics."--Vaidehi Nathan, Organiser "To my mind, though, there is circumstantial evidence that the contributions in this booklet are pretty close to what the title promises. This volume is the very ticket for any mathematician and--beyond that--for anybody who enjoys a sense of delight in the beauty of writing."--J. Lang, International Mathematical NewsMore details
Series
Edition
2011 edition
Language
English
Place of publication
New Jersey
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
68 halftones. 12 line illus.
Dimensions
Height: 215 mm
Width: 141 mm
Thickness: 38 mm
Weight
430 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-691-15315-5 (9780691153155)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Mircea Pitici
The Best Writing on Mathematics 2011
E-Book
11/2011
1st Edition
Princeton University Press
€18.49
Available for download
Persons
Mircea Pitici is a PhD candidate in mathematics education at Cornell University. He teaches mathematics courses and writing seminars at Cornell and Ithaca College.
Content
*FrontMatter, pg. i*Contents, pg. vii*Foreword: Recreational Mathematics, pg. xi*Introduction, pg. xvii*What is Mathematics For?, pg. 1*A Tisket, a Tasket, an Apollonian Gasket, pg. 13*The Quest for God's Number, pg. 27*Meta-morphism: From Graduate Student to Networked Mathematician, pg. 35*One, Two, Many: Individuality and Collectivity in Mathematics, pg. 43*Reflections on the Decline of Mathematical Tables, pg. 51*Under-Represented Then Over-Represented:, pg. 55*Did Over-Reliance on Mathematical Models for Risk Assessment Create the Financial Crisis?, pg. 67*Fill in the Blanks:, pg. 75*The Great Principles of Computing, pg. 82*Computer Generation of Ribbed Sculptures, pg. 93*Lorenz System Offers Manifold Possibilities for Art, pg. 115*Celebrating Mathematics in Stone and Bronze, pg. 150*Mathematics Education, pg. 169*Thinking and Comprehending in the Mathematics Classroom, pg. 188*Teaching Research: Encouraging Discoveries, pg. 203*Reflections of an Accidental Theorist, pg. 219*The Conjoint Origin of Proof and Theoretical Physics, pg. 236*What Makes Mathematics Mathematics?, pg. 257*What Anti-realism in Philosophy of Mathematics Must Offer, pg. 286*Seeing Numbers, pg. 312*Autism and Mathematical Talent, pg. 330*How Much Math is Too Much Math?, pg. 336*Hidden Dimensions, pg. 347*Playing with Matches, pg. 356*Notable Texts, pg. 367*Contributors, pg. 371*Acknowledgments, pg. 379*Credits, pg. 381