The Joy of Mathematics: Discovering Mathematics All Around You

by Theoni Pappas

Book Overview

Part of the joy of mathematics is that it is everywhere-in soap bubbles, electricity, da Vinci's masterpieces, even in an ocean wave. Written by the well-known mathematics teacher consultant, this volume's collection of over 200 clearly illustrated mathematical ideas, concepts, puzzles, and games shows where they turn up in the "real" world. You'll find out what a googol is, visit hotel infinity, read a thorny logic problem that was stumping them...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0933174659
• ISBN13: 9780933174658
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Wide World Publishing
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Notice more around you than just what you see

My appreciation for Theoni Pappas is enormous as for an observer and admirer of the world around her and mathematician. These factors cannot be separated, as at first you have to do more than just look around, but you have to have a beautiful mind of a child and be an intellectualist at the same time, not just to take things for granted, but as a child be curious and ask questions and finally as an intellectualist and mathematician find answers to them. Yet, there is more to it. It is so, as the author popularizes mathematics. She answers the basic questions about role of mathematics in our lives. Most people associate mathematics as calculating especially money, yet in mathematics the theory models or formula are created, and it occurs that they find application in our material world sometimes even centuries afterwards. Let us look at some examples in the book "The joy of mathematics": - earthquakes and logarithms- connection lies in the method to calculate earthquakes' magnitudes by means of Richter scale, which is logarithmic, - the catenary & the parabolic curves- who takes as an obvious phenomena- the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco- it looks gorgeous, but what it looks like is connected with construction equations, which contribute to the fundamental thing, that it really is invulnerable and cannot be destroyed by the mass itself, as well as additional natural forces. Even Galileo noticed the curve to be parabola, - Thales & the Great Pyramid- Egiptians' calculations of the height of a pyramid were based on shadows and similar triangles, -the Dome of Milan -Gothic plans incorporating the application of geometry and symmetry in architecture, and lots of stuff like that. If you like to notice more around you, astound your friends, you should read such books, as there is more beauty around you than what you just see.

These are vignettes, designed to inspire further exploration

The widely divergent reviews reflect a lack of understanding of the purpose of this book. It is meant to touch on many mathematical ideas, not to go into depth on any one idea. My son read this at age 8, then at 10, and again at 12 - getting something more out of it every time. Many of the ideas intrigued and inspired him to seek out more information on his own, to research and understand more deeply. For that purpose, it deserves the highest rating. I did not give 5 stars because there are some instances where I did find errors, these do not detract from the purpose of the book, but they are annoying to those of us who try to delve deeper. What I consistently found myself doing is researching from the internet and other print resources. But the idea originated from the overview in the book. Many recreational mathematics books are inaccessible to beginners or math phobes. This book allows you to sample many, many ideas without feeling overwhelmed by details you may not understand. If you want details, you go explore the world opened up by the book.

"THE JOY OF HAVING THIS BOOK"

"The Joy of Mathematics" is just EXCELLENT!! This is the perfect tool to understand mathematics and its usage. I really recommend this book to those who think that Mathematics has not evolutioned and that its not useful.

It was a really interesting book

It's amazing how much math we use in our lives. This book really explains and teaches a lot of different math ideas. It's interesting puzzles and diagrams will keep the reader hooked. A must buy for anyone who likes having fun while learning.

An excellent book for mathematicans *and* non-mathematicians

This is an excellent book that covers many areas of math. Each subject is covered in 1-4 pages making the book very easy to read, and useful to teachers as a resource for enrichment. This book may be too simple or "shallow" for some of the more serious mathematicians, but the fun feeling of the book makes up for it. The book also includes many tie-ins to areas such as science, art, and other fields. Definitely worth reading, a MUST for the library of any middle or high school math teacher.