Product Description

A retitled and revised edition of Ian Stewart's The Problem of Mathematics, this is the perfect guide to today's mathematics. Read about the latest discoveries, including Andrew Wile's amazing proof of Fermat's Last Theorem, the newest advances in knot theory, the Four Colour Theorem, Chaos Theory, and fake four-dimensial spaces. See how simple concepts from probability theory shed light on the National Lottery and tell you how to maximize your winnings. Discover how infinitesimals become respectable, why there are different kinds of infinity, and how to square the circle with the mathematical equivalent of a pair of scissors.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27337 in Books
• Published on: 1996-04-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Good Book Guide
"Maths can be fun! What's more, as Ian Stewart shows, it can be explained in everyday language ... it is such a surprise to find mathematics being made so accessible."

Review
Maths can be fun! What's more, as Ian Stewart shows, it can be explained in everyday language ... it is such a surprise to find mathematics being made so accessible. (Good Book Guide )

an excellent account of what's going on in mathematics right now (Guardian )

About the Author
Ian Stewart is Professor of Mathematics at Warwick University. He contributes to a wide range of newspapers and magazines.

Customer Reviews

Brilliant Introduction to Modern Mathematics
A Brilliant introduction to everything that is modern about mathematics and includes all the latest developments including proofs of the famous Fermat's Last Theorem and the Four-Colour problem. Readers familiar with Ian Stewart will be unsurprised to find his clear, concise and humourous approach to Maths and his great enthusiasm for the subject is portrayed through this book. A great read and brilliant for those who want a readable, accurate yet not too technical account of the latest developmnents in Mathematics.

A very interesting, but complex book
I read this book last year - at the tender age of 17. When I bought it, I presumed it to be pretty much the same type of book as Eli Maor's 'To Infinity and beyond' - but it wasn't. To be able to read and understand this book, you need to be a capable mathematician - or be willing to let large chunks of it pass over your head - as I did.

Having said this, there are plenty of interesting topics covered in the book - and it opens your eyes to lots of new areas in maths which you never knew even existed. If you're a budding mathematician then you must read this book - though I'd leave it until you're at university.

Not what it's sold as.
This book is paraded as an accessible guide to todays mathematics. Unfortunately, this description is mainly incorrect. Do not buy this book unless you have a good grounding in mathematics. I'm in the 2nd year of my A-Levels, which include maths and further maths, and this is far too hard for me. Also, the style becomes very annoying after a while. The author often says "This tool to prove this was then invented. I can't explain it to you it's too complicated." He then writes 20 pages which are incredbily unfullfilling as you have no real idea what he is talking about.

In conclusion, if you want an accesible mathematics book, I highly suggest you read "Music of the Primes" instead. However, if you have completed you first year of university maths, this book may be a great read for you.