Here's Looking at Euclid: A Surprising Excursion Through the Astonishing World of Math

图书标准信息

• 作者 Alex Bellos 著
• 出版社 Free Press
• 出版时间 2010-06
• ISBN 9781416588252
• 定价 178.00元
• 装帧 精装
• 开本 其他
• 纸张 其他
• 页数 319页
• 正文语种 英语

【内容简介】

Toooftenmathgetsabadrap,characterizedasdryanddifficult.But,AlexBellossays,"mathcanbeinspiringandbrilliantlycreative.Mathematicalthoughtisoneofthegreatachievementsofthehumanrace,andarguablythefoundationofallhumanprogress.Theworldofmathematicsisaremarkableplace."Belloshastraveledallaroundtheglobeandhasplungedintohistorytouncoverfascinatingstoriesofmathematicalachievement,fromthebreakthroughsofEuclid,thegreatestmathematicianofalltime,tothecreationsoftheZenmasteroforigami,oneofthehottestareasofmathematicalworktoday.TakingusintothewildsoftheAmazon,hetellsthestoryofatribetherewhocancountonlytofiveandreportsonthelatestfindingsaboutthemathinstinct—includingtherevelationthatantscanactuallycounthowmanystepsthey’vetaken.JourneyingtotheBayofBengal,heinterviewsaHindusageaboutthebrilliantmathematicalinsightsoftheBuddha,whileinJapanhevisitsthegodfatherofSudokuandintroducesthebrainteasingdelightsofmathematicalgames.Exploringthemysteriesofrandomness,heexplainswhyitisimpossibleforouriPodstotrulyrandomlyselectsongs.Inprobingthemanyintriguesofthatmostbelovedofnumbers,pi,hevisitswithtwobrotherssoobsessedwiththeelusivenumberthattheybuiltasupercomputerintheirManhattanapartmenttostudyit.Throughout,thejourneyisenhancedwithawealthofintriguingillustrations,suchasofthecleverpuzzlesknownastangramsandthecrochetcreationofanAmericanmathprofessorwhosuddenlyrealizedonedaythatshecouldknitarepresentationofhigherdimensionalspacethatnoonehadbeenabletovisualize.

WhetherwritingabouthowalgebrasolvedSwedishtrafficproblems,visitingtheMentalCalculationWorldCuptodisclosethesecretsoflightningcalculation,orexploringthelinksbetweenpineapplesandbeautifulteeth,Bellosisawonderfullyengagingguidewhoneverfailstodelightevenasheedifies.Here’sLookingatEuclidisararegemthatbringsthebeautyofmathtolife.

【作者简介】

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