How the Other Half Thinks: Adventures in Mathematical Reasoning

Maths enthusiasts aren't necessarily the number-crunching geeks we tend to assume. In fact, they know that maths is about much more than numbers; it is a profoundly philosophical endeavour, as well as a stimulating mental exercise. In "How the Other Half Thinks", Sherman Stein emphasizes the creative elements of mathematics by exploring some significant mathematical discoveries through simple, intuitive manipulations. With an ingenious technique that uses no algebra or trigonometry, and only a minimum of arithmetic, Stein takes us through the thought process behind some of math's great discoveries and applications. Each chapter begins with a simple question about strings made up of the letters "a" and "b", which leads to other, more profound questions. Along the way, we become familiar with concepts from such fields as topology and probability, and learn how they have led to applications such as codes and radar, computing and even baseball statistics. Recreational and instructive, "How the Other Half Thinks" should appeal to die-hard maths enthusiasts (of which there are many) as well as those "right-brainers" who are looking for a way to understand and enjoy maths.