Synopses & Reviews
"Ian Stewart's quirky humor and imaginative storytelling entice readers into a fascinating world of mathematical curiosities and mind-tickling puzzles. I couldn't help laughing as I tussled with the intricacies of graphs, groups, and catastrophes."--Ivars Peterson, author and columnist for
Science News"It is impossible to read him without learning a great deal and thoroughly enjoying the instruction."—Martin Gardner
Populated by curious creatures whose stories unfold with jokes and puns, this mathematical wonderland of puzzles and games also imparts significant mathematical ideas. Ian Stewart, an active popularizer of mathematics and a university professor, has selected 16 of his columns from Pour la Science, the French edition of Scientific American. Most are based on a mathematical idea, dressed up with oddball characters and wacky wordplay, such as "The Lion, the Llama, and the Lettuce," which employs graph theory to relate how a farmer got his produce to market, and "Through the Evolvoscope," a view of catastrophe theory punctuated by flying cats and flipperpotami. 1992 ed. 125 figures.
Synopsis
Populated by curious creatures whose stories unfold with jokes and puns, this mathematical wonderland of puzzles and games also imparts significant mathematical ideas. Ian Stewart--an active popularizer of mathematics, university professor, and former columnist for"
Synopsis
Populated by curious creatures whose stories unfold with jokes and puns, this mathematical wonderland of puzzles and games also imparts significant mathematical ideas. Ian Stewart, an active popularizer of mathematics, university professor, and former columnist for Scientific American's "Mathematical Games" section, has selected 16 of his columns from Pour la Science, the French edition of Scientific American, most based on a mathematical idea dressed up with oddball characters and wacky wordplay.
About the Author
Ian Stewart, an active popularizer of mathematics, university professor, and former columnist for Scientific American's "Mathematical Games" column.