Is Maths Real?
How Simple Questions Lead Us to Mathematics' Deepest Truths
Published on 1. June 2023
978-1-78283-924-8 (ISBN)
Description
A WATERSTONES BEST BOOK OF 2023
A NEW SCIENTIST BEST BOOK OF 2023
WINNER OF THE LA TIMES SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023 BOOK PRIZE
'A generous tour of mathematics for anyone whose instincts tend less towards "Just tell me the answer" and more towards "Wait, but why?"' JORDAN ELLENBERG
To many, maths feels like an unmapped wilderness. Between abstract concepts like imaginary numbers and infinity, it can sometimes feel like a lot of maths is just made up. Why, for example, is 1 not a prime? Why do two negatives cancel each other out? Where does trigonometry come from? Is maths even real?
Abstract mathematician Eugenia Cheng shows that curiosity is the best teacher. Is Maths Real? takes us on a scintillating tour of the simple questions that provoke mathematics' deepest insights.
'Intriguing...celebrates the dizziness and disorientation engendered by childlike questions that hint at the deep mysteries beneath'
NEW SCIENTIST
'Masterfully uncovers what's simply profound in the profoundly simple'
FRANCIS SU
'Discover what it feels like to be a real mathematician'
DAILY TELEGRAPH
A NEW SCIENTIST BEST BOOK OF 2023
WINNER OF THE LA TIMES SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023 BOOK PRIZE
'A generous tour of mathematics for anyone whose instincts tend less towards "Just tell me the answer" and more towards "Wait, but why?"' JORDAN ELLENBERG
To many, maths feels like an unmapped wilderness. Between abstract concepts like imaginary numbers and infinity, it can sometimes feel like a lot of maths is just made up. Why, for example, is 1 not a prime? Why do two negatives cancel each other out? Where does trigonometry come from? Is maths even real?
Abstract mathematician Eugenia Cheng shows that curiosity is the best teacher. Is Maths Real? takes us on a scintillating tour of the simple questions that provoke mathematics' deepest insights.
'Intriguing...celebrates the dizziness and disorientation engendered by childlike questions that hint at the deep mysteries beneath'
NEW SCIENTIST
'Masterfully uncovers what's simply profound in the profoundly simple'
FRANCIS SU
'Discover what it feels like to be a real mathematician'
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Reviews / Votes
A generous tour of mathematics for anyone whose instincts tend less towards "Just tell me the answer" and more towards "Wait, but why?" -- Jordan Ellenberg, author * Shape * An edible exploration of math -- Katrina Miller * The New York Times * A brilliant rebuttal to those who see math as only about right answers, rather than about creative discovery. [Cheng] masterfully uncovers what's simply profound in the profoundly simple -- Francis Su, author * Mathematics for Human Flourishing * Intriguing ... Celebrates the dizziness and disorientation engendered by childlike questions that hint at the deep mysteries beneath -- Anil Ananthaswamy * New Scientist * Discover what it feels like to be a real mathematician ... This is a human pursuit, depicted here from the inside -- Simon Ings * Telegraph * An entertaining foray into the more philosophical realms of mathematics ... for the budding mathematician in the house, to say nothing of lovers of puzzles and enigmas * Kirkus * Reminds us that maths is driven by human curiosity and creativity - not by right and wrong answers * NPR *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Reflowable
Illustrations
Diagrams
ISBN-13
978-1-78283-924-8 (9781782839248)
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
Book
06/2024
Profile Books Ltd
€14.00
Available immediately
Book
06/2023
Profile Books Ltd
€41.03
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Person
Eugenia Cheng is Scientist in Residence at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Honorary Visiting Fellow of Pure Mathematics at City, University of London. A Cambridge graduate, she previously taught at the Universities of Cambridge, Chicago and Nice. She is also a concert pianist, fluent in French, and the author of several Profile bestsellers, including How to Bake Pi and x + y. In 2024, Is Maths Real? won the LA Times Science & Technology Book Prize.
