This is open access book provides plenty of pleasant mathematical surprises. There are many fascinating results that do not appear in textbooks although they are accessible with a good knowledge of secondary-school mathematics. This book presents a selection of these topics including the mathematical formalization of origami, construction with straightedge and compass (and other instruments), the five- and six-color theorems, a taste of Ramsey theory and little-known theorems proved by induction. Among the most surprising theorems are the Mohr-Mascheroni theorem that a compass alone can perform all the classical constructions with straightedge and compass, and Steiner's theorem that a straightedge alone is sufficient provided that a single circle is given. The highlight of the book is a detailed presentation of Gauss's purely algebraic proof that a regular heptadecagon (a regular polygon with seventeen sides) can be constructed with straightedge and compass. Although the mathematics used in the book is elementary (Euclidean and analytic geometry, algebra, trigonometry), students in secondary schools and colleges, teachers, and other interested readers will relish the opportunity to confront the challenge of understanding these surprising theorems.

"Originally published by Key Curriculum Press"--t.p.

With many entertaining examples of mathematical curiosities, educators Posamentier and Lehmann have created the perfect introduction to the wonders of mathematics for the general reader, requiring only a high school background in the subject.

This book explores the history of mathematics from the perspective of the creative tension between common sense and the "impossible" as the author follows the discovery or invention of new concepts that have marked mathematical progress: - Irrational and Imaginary Numbers - The Fourth Dimension - Curved Space - Infinity and others The author puts t

This book brings together a variety of probability applications through entertaining stories that will appeal to a broad readership. What are the best stopping rules for the dating problem? What can Bayes’ formula tell us about the chances of a Champions League draw for soccer teams being rigged? How could syndicates win millions of lottery dollars by buying a multitude of tickets at the right time? What’s the best way to manage your betting bankroll in a game in which you have an edge? How to use probability to debunk quacks and psychic mediums? How can the Monte Carlo simulation be used to solve a wide variety of probability problems? Are seven riffle shuffles of a standard deck of 52 playing cards enough for randomness? Provides seventeen engaging stories that illustrate ideas in probability. Written so as to be suitable for those with minimal mathematical background. Stories can be read independently. Can be used as examples and exercises for teaching introductory probability. These questions and many more are addressed in seventeen short chapters that can be read independently. The engaging stories are instructive and demonstrate valuable probabilistic ideas. They offer students material that they most likely don’t learn in class, and offer teachers a new way of teaching their subject.

This excellent book, written by the established author David Acheson, makes mathematics accessible to everyone. Providing an entertaining and witty overview of the subject, the text includes several fascinating puzzles, and is accompanied by numerous illustrations and sketches by world famouscartoonists. This unusual book is one of the most readable explanations of mathematics available.

The third edition of this bestselling book for teachers of secondary mathematics has been brought right up to date and benefits from an extra teacher voice. Together, the authors show how active learning and introducing an element of surprise can bring mathematics alive. With a firm focus on problem solving, independent exploration, thinking skills and applying maths to real-life situations, this book contains new ideas, anecdotes and strategies including brand new chapters on functional mathematics, how to make best use of assessment, and teacher and curriculum development. Brimming with useful tips and inspirational advice on every aspect of teaching, this book is essential reading for maths teachers at any stage of their career.

A brilliant tour of mathematical thought and a guide to becoming a better thinker, How Not to Be Wrong shows that math is not just a long list of rules to be learned and carried out by rote. Math touches everything we do; It's what makes the world make sense. Using the mathematician's methods and hard-won insights-minus the jargon-professor and popular columnist Jordan Ellenberg guides general readers through his ideas with rigor and lively irreverence, infusing everything from election results to baseball to the existence of God and the psychology of slime molds with a heightened sense of clarity and wonder. Armed with the tools of mathematics, we can see the hidden structures beneath the messy and chaotic surface of our daily lives. How Not to Be Wrong shows us how--Publisher's description.

'This book could serve either as a good reference to remind students about what they have seen in their completed courses or as a starting point to show what needs more investigation. Svozil (Vienna Univ. of Technology) offers a very thorough text that leaves no mathematical area out, but it is best described as giving a synopsis of each application and how it relates to other areas … The text is organized well and provides a good reference list. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and graduate students.'CHOICEThis book contains very explicit proofs and demonstrations through examples for a comprehensive introduction to the mathematical methods of theoretical physics. It also combines and unifies many expositions of this subject, suitable for readers with interest in experimental and applied physics.