The Joy of X: A Guided Tour of Math, from One to Infinity [B1298]

2012 HCDJ in nice clean condition. "Delightful . . . easily digestible chapters include plenty of helpful examples and illustrations. You'll never forget the Pythagorean theorem again!"-Scientific American. Many people take math in high school and promptly forget much of it. But math plays a part in all of our lives all of the time, whether we know it or not. In The Joy of x, Steven Strogatz expands on his hit New York Times series to explain the big ideas of math gently and clearly, with wit, insight, and brilliant illustrations. Whether he is illuminating how often you should flip your mattress to get the maximum lifespan from it, explaining just how Google searches the internet, or determining how many people you should date before settling down, Strogatz shows how math connects to every aspect of life. Discussing pop culture, medicine, law, philosophy, art, and business, Strogatz is the math teacher you wish you'd had. Whether you aced integral calculus or aren't sure what an integer is, you'll find profound wisdom and persistent delight in The Joy of x.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "This book is spectacular. I can't wait to recommend it to anyone curious, anyone interested in mathematics, or anyone who wants to approach it in a different way. Strogatz has a humorous, storytelling touch that helps greatly lighten topics that can otherwise feel heavy. It's also remarkable for touching on topics so central to society in such a calm manner and guiding the reader in how to deepen the knowledge gained. One of the best reads to introduce a topic as vast as infinity itself."; "This was truly a book that felt joyful about math. It made me wish I knew calculus, but even though I don't, the concepts were made approachable. My favorite illustration was finding the area of a circle by turning it into a rectangle."; "This book is an excellent overview of math, beginning with elementary basics and moving through calculus and group theory, etc. I love how I learned something new in every chapter-even the very first one about why numbers exist! Strogatz is a rare find-a genius who doesn't come off as arrogant."