Nonplussed mathematical proof of implausible ideas.

Math--the application of reasonable logic to reasonable assumptions--usually produces reasonable results. But sometimes math generates astonishing paradoxes--conclusions that seem completely unreasonable or just plain impossible but that are nevertheless demonstrably true: Conclusions that, for exam...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author:	Havil, Julian
Format:	eBook Book
Language:	English
Published:	Princeton, N.J Princeton University Press 2007
Edition:	1
Subjects:	Adoption of the Gregorian calendar Algorithm Apollo 13 Arc length Birthday problem Calculation Cavalieri's principle Circles of Apollonius Combination Complex number Computation Coordinate system Curse of dimensionality Derangement Diagram Diagram (category theory) Digamma function Dimension Easter Elementary algebra Enthusiasm Epistle Equilateral triangle Error function Flatland FRACTRAN Gabriel's Horn Gamma function General Science Geometric probability Geometry Gregorian calendar Highway Hyperbola Hypercube Hypersphere Integer Integration by parts Intersection (set theory) Julian calendar Leap year Lewis Carroll Logarithmic spiral Magic square Martin Gardner Mathematical recreations Mathematician MATHEMATICS Mathematics > Miscellenea MATHEMATICS / Applied Maundy Thursday Miscellanea Month Natural number Nontransitive dice Notation Paradox Paradox > Mathematics Polynomial Power of two Prime number Probability Probability and statistics Pursuit curve Quarry Rectangle Requirement Result SCIENCE / Applied Sciences Scientific notation Shrove Tuesday Summation Surface area Theory Treatise Triskaidekaphobia Universally unique identifier Wine glass Birthday problem Polynomial Rectangle FRACTRAN Gamma function Cavalieri's principle Triskaidekaphobia Treatise Result Month Combination Calculation Probability and statistics Arc length Highway Integration by parts Lewis Carroll Gregorian calendar Leap year Quarry Equilateral triangle Magic square Algorithm Requirement Curse of dimensionality Epistle Computation Hypercube Geometric probability Julian calendar Summation Enthusiasm Prime number Natural number Easter Circles of Apollonius Gabriel's Horn Digamma function Theory Diagram (category theory) Mathematics Flatland Coordinate system Notation Wine glass Apollo 13 Maundy Thursday Nontransitive dice Universally unique identifier Error function Probability Elementary algebra Power of two Dimension Logarithmic spiral Derangement Mathematician Complex number Diagram Integer Geometry Martin Gardner Shrove Tuesday Hypersphere Intersection (set theory) Scientific notation Pursuit curve Hyperbola Surface area Adoption of the Gregorian calendar
ISBN:	9781400837380, 0691120560, 9780691120560, 0691148228, 1400837383, 9780691148229
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	Math--the application of reasonable logic to reasonable assumptions--usually produces reasonable results. But sometimes math generates astonishing paradoxes--conclusions that seem completely unreasonable or just plain impossible but that are nevertheless demonstrably true: Conclusions that, for example, tell us that a losing sports team can become a winning one by adding worse players than its opponents. Or that the thirteenth of the month is more likely to be a Friday than any other day. Or that cones can roll unaided uphill. In Nonplussed!--a delightfully eclectic collection of paradoxes from many different areas of math--popular-math writer Julian Havil reveals the math that shows the truth of these and many other unbelievable ideas.
Bibliography:	Includes index "Fourth printing, and first paperback printing, 2010"--T.p. verso
ISBN:	9781400837380 0691120560 9780691120560 0691148228 1400837383 9780691148229
DOI:	10.1515/9781400837380