Math Bytes (ebook)

Argumento de Math Bytes (ebook)

"Tim Chartier, a professor of mathematics at Davidson College, has put together a delightful book of recreational mathematics. His presentation of a large array of topics is accompanied by excellent graphics, many in color. . . . In sum, a fun book."--Philip J. Davis, SIAM News

"[L]ively and entertaining book. . . . All of the applications are presented in an accessible and engaging way, enabling beginners and advanced readers alike to learn and explore at their own pace--a bit and a byte at a time."--Zentralblatt MATH

"For readers who love math, computing and puzzles, Math Bytes will be a welcome gift."--George Erdosh, San Francisco Book Review

"[Math Bytes] manages to fulfill its aim of providing a 'tasty byte of math and computing' while following a clear, concise, and to-the-point format. . . . [P]rovides interesting insights to some of the complex, highly sophisticated algorithms that lie behind some of our most widely used technological resources."--Rachael Skyner, Science

One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2014

"How can you tell, by just looking, that 1782¹² + 1841¹² = 1922¹² is not a true statement? When you search for something on the web, how does Google know how to respond with the most relevant hits first? Chartier tells you how in this book. Each new discussion illustrates the almost supernatural explanatory nature of mathematics, promising many hours of enjoyment."--Paul J. Nahin, author of Will You Be Alive 10 Years from Now?: And Numerous Other Curious Questions in Probability

"A magnificent and curious romp through a wonderful array of mathematical topics and applications: maze creation, Google's PageRank algorithm, doodling, the traveling salesman problem, math on The Simpsons, Fermat's Last Theorem, viral tweets, fractals, and so much more. Buy this book and feed your brain."--Clifford A. Pickover, author of The Math Book

"Math Bytes is a playful and inviting collection of interesting mathematical examples and applications, sometimes in surprising places. Many of these applications are unique or put a new spin on things. The link to computing helps make many of the topics tangible to a general audience."--Matt Lane, creator of the Math Goes Pop! Blog

"Readable and fun. There are few books like this one that engage with mathematics at this level of accessibility and tie into real-world contexts in a humorous yet rigorous way. Math Bytes reinforces the excitement of mathematics and its relevance to modern culture."--Peter McOwan, Queen Mary, University of London

"I definitely learnt a few new things and was entertained as I did so. Furthermore, anything that spreads the message that mathematics is both interesting and useful has to be a good thing, so I wish this book success."--Rob Ashmore, Mathematics Today

"A mathematical Pandora's box released is perhaps the best way to describe this book. It overflows with ideas, flitting from one fascinating topic to the next, often without an apparent connection. The range is impressive. . . . Everyone should find a 'math byte' of interest in this book, and perhaps end up finding other topics of interest as well."--Choice

"Math Bytes is fun and full of puzzles and brainteasers in a mashup of mathematics, social media, and pop culture referencing Beyoncé, Google, and Twitter among others. . . . This reviewer is simply a fool for math puzzles (though some readers might stop at simply a fool). Math Bytes scratches that itch quite nicely."--Robert Schaefer, New York Journal of Books

"A fun collection of mathematical applications that has something for everyone, even mathphobes."--Anne Quinn, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

"The mathematical topics are interesting and informative; if you teach at the college level, you are likely to find some interesting fodder for your courses here. You also may, as I did, learn some new things yourself. . . . This book, which is filled with photos, drawings, and anecdotes, is a treasure trove of amusing mathematical vignettes. It makes for very pleasant summer reading."--Mark Hunacek, MAA Reviews

"The author's humanistic, sincere enjoyment of communicating his selections permeates and I think defines the book. . . . The choice of topics and exposition details make the book entertainingly relevant."--Alexander Bogomolny, Cut the Knot

"The reader is constantly challenged to think about it or answer certain questions and to solve some problems (some solutions are provided at the end). Most of all, it's such a lovely little booklet that does not give you the time to get bored with. The average chapter length, including the many illustrations, is only 10 pages. Just enough to catch your interest and get bitten by the mathematics."--A. Bultheel, European Mathematical Society

"Printed on glossy paper and filled with colourful photographs, illustrations and diagrams on nearly every page, this book discusses mathematical ideas that can help us make sense of the digital world. The author's offbeat viewpoint comes from a truly unusual background; he studied mime with the legendary Marcel Marceau whilst pursuing his doctorate in applied maths."--Devorah Bennu, GrrlScientist, The Guardian0Preface ix
1Your First Byte 1
2Deceiving Arithmetic 5
3Two by Two 11
4Infinite Detail 21
5Plot the Course 32
6Doodling into a Labyrinth 42
7Obama-cize Yourself 54
8Painting with M&Ms 61
9Distorting Reality 73
10A Pretty Mathematical Face 86
11March MATHness 98
12Ranking a Googol of Bits 105
13A Byte to Go 124
14Up to the Challenge 125
Bibliography 131
Index 133
Image Credits 135