The Little Book of Mathematical Principles, Theories & Things

By Robert Solomon

The Little Book of Mathematical Principles provides simple, clear explanations for over 120 principles, equations, paradoxes, laws, and theorems that form the basis of modern mathematics. Making serious math simple, it explains Fibonacci numbers, Euclid’s Elements, and Zeno’s paradoxes, as well as other fundamental principles such as chaos theory, game theory, and the game of life. This book simplifies the ancient discipline of mathematics and provides fascinating answers to intriguing questions, such as: What is the greatest pyramid? and Is there a theory for stacking oranges? Written by the author of CCEA GCSE Mathematics Higher 2 and Advanced Level Mathematics: Mechanics, this book is excellent either for dipping into or for reading from cover to cover for a more thorough and engaging understanding of mathematics.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IMM Lifestyle Books
• Release date: Jan 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781607652229

Reviews for The Little Book of Mathematical Principles, Theories & Things

[hadden_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a little jewel of a book, and is highly recommended for bathroom reading. It has 130 short sections in the principles and theories of mathematics through time, starting in the third millennium BC, when numbers were first written down. Each section includes a clear main heading, the people (if known) responsible for the discovery, dates, and a short paragraph explaining the concept concisely. Some sections range from the solution to how to pack oranges to the shortest path over seven bridges. You do not have to be a mathematician to appreciate each of these sections, since introductory high school math should be sufficient. Recommended for homes and personal libraries, and for places where you pick up books, read for a short while, and then place them back down on the table. A good read, and a think piece.

[yakatizma · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I found this little gem in the bargain bin at Barnes and Nobles. The Little Book of Mathematical Principles, Theories, and Things is exactly what it claims to be. The portable glossy hardbound book contains one to two page summaries of various mathematical principles, theories, and things arranged in chronological order. Each summary provides you with the approximate date and country of origin of the topic and a brief explanation and example of the mathematical concept. The explanations provided for even the most complex mathematical concepts contained in the book are written in layman's terms so that the concept may be grasped quickly and easily by just about anyone. Incidentally, The Little Book of Mathematical Principles, Theories, and Things is more than just a collection of math concepts, it is a compact history of mathematics.