Beyond Numeracy: Ruminations of a Numbers Man

by John Paulos

Hardcover, 1991

Status

Available

Call number

510

Publication

Knopf (1991), Edition: 1st, 285 pages

Description

"This book is in part a dictionary, in part a collection of short mathematical essays, and in part the ruminations of a numbers man. Although it contains many entries (brief essays) arranged in alphabetical order and depicting a broad range of mathematical topics, the book differs from a standard dictionary in that its entries are less comprehensive, longer, and in some cases quite unconventional."--Introduction.

User reviews

LibraryThing member labbit440
Like E.D. Hirsch, but for math. It's an interesting view about what math should be in people's lives, but Paulos strikes me as a mathematician who can write a bit, not an educator.
LibraryThing member gam3
The other day I happen to start talking to my Mother about Field Theory. We were not sure of the difference between a field and a group. We were on a picnic, but I had a copy "Beyond Numeracy" with me. Sure enough there is a chapter on group theory and it answered our questions.

This book is
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wonderful to travel with. The chapters are short and interesting. Great reading when you have an hour to kill in the airport. No matter how much or how little Math you know, you are sure to learn something from this book and be entertained in the process.
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LibraryThing member stevholt
An uncommon dictionary of mathematics

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

1991

Physical description

285 p.; 6.5 inches

ISBN

0394586409 / 9780394586403

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