Mrs. Perkins's Electric Quilt: And Other Intriguing Stories of Mathematical Physics

by Paul J. Nahin

Book Overview

An incomparable collection of stimulating math puzzles from bestselling author Paul Nahin

What does quilting have to do with electric circuit theory? The answer is just one of the fascinating ways that best-selling popular math writer Paul Nahin illustrates the deep interplay of math and physics in the world around us in his latest book of challenging mathematical puzzles, Mrs. Perkins's Electric Quilt. With his trademark combination...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691135401
• ISBN13: 9780691135403
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 424 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Very enjoyable exercise for the brain.

I have now read six of Paul Nahin's books and enjoyed them all. The one difference with this book is perhaps that it dosn't have a single underlying theme other then being a collection of very interesting problems in basic physics. They were all good but the first chapter hooked me: what is the position after five seconds of a particle with an applied force of kx**2? Sound trivial? It sure surprised me. In solving these problems he provides a perfect mix of math, physics, history, and anecdotes. As for prerequisites, a familiarity but not expertise with calculus and high school physics should be sufficient. By the way, another author very similar in style (except more towards theoretical than applied math) is John Derbyshire. Both gentlemen remind me of that one professor who could make any lecture so interesting that you were sad when the class ended.