Product Description

Ian Stewart, author of the bestselling Professor StewartÂ’s Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities, presents a new and magical mix of games, puzzles, paradoxes, brainteasers, and riddles. He mingles these with forays into ancient and modern mathematical thought, appallingly hilarious mathematical jokes, and enquiries into the great mathematical challenges of the present and past. Amongst a host of arcane and astonishing facts about every kind of number from irrational or imaginary to complex or cuneiform, we find out: how to organise chaos how matter balances anti-matter how to turn a sphere inside out (without creasing it Â…) why you canÂ’t comb a hairy ball how to calculate pi by observing the stars And we get some tantalising glimpses of the maths of life and the universe. Mind-stretching, enlightening and endlessly amusing, Professor StewartÂ’s new entertainment will stimulate, delight, and enthral.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #468 in Books
• Published on: 2009-10-08
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Review
`An ideal present for anyone addicted to Sudoku-like puzzles and beginning to wonder what might lie beyond' --Spectator

From the Inside Flap
Ian Stewart, author of the bestselling Professor Stewart's Cabniet of Mathematical Curiosities, presents a new and magical mix of games, puzzles, paradoxes, brainteasers, and riddles. Again taken from his own treasure house of mathematical delights, these are the things you won't have learned in mathes at school - things that are marvellous, mysterious, unexpected, fun. He mingles these with forays into ancient and modern mathematical thought, mathematical jokes, and enquiries into the great mathematical challenges of the present and past. Among a host of arcane and astonishing facts about every kind of number, from irrational or imaginary to complex or cuneiform, we find out how matter balances anti-matter, the secrets of the great global warming swindle (or is it...?), how to work out the surface area of an ostrich egg, what Leonhard Euler had to do with pirates and who invented the equals sign. On the way we learn how to make and break codes, how to feed a greedy algorithm and what happened when the probability theorist William Feller tried to get a table through a doorway. This hoard of mathematical gems and marvellous explanations is scattered with tantalising glimpses of the maths of life and the universe. Mind-stretching, enlightening and endlessly amusing for hardened expert or cautious newcomer, Professor Stewart's new entertainment will stimulate, delight and enthrall.

From the Back Cover
In this next drawer from the cabinet of mathematical curiosities, you will discover: - How codes are made and how to break them - How falling cats land on their feet - How to turn a sphere inside out (without creasing it) - Why you can't comb a hairy ball - What Emperor Frederick II asked Leonardo of Pisa - And how to calculate pi by observing the stars Professor Stewart's remarkable revelations will tease, tantalise and amaze - and above all they will keep you on your toes.

Customer Reviews

Professor Stewart's Video! Part 1
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RS5B7B7FRA85H I love this book! Check out these videos I found on the Prof's page on the Warwick Uni website...

Professor Stewart continues to hoard
Professor Stewart continues to hoard his mathematical treasures much to the delight and amusement of our resident 17 year old maths genius. If you can continue to engage and entertain such a lively mind I can only congratulate you - us older minds enjoy delving into the book from time to time ourselves I hasten to add!