What’s the Use?

Categories:

13.99

‘Stewart is Britain’s most brilliant and prolific populariser of maths’ Alex Bellos’The instructive equivalent of a Michelin-starred tasting menu’ Tim RadfordMany people think mathematics is useless. They’re wrong. In the UK, the 2.8 million people employed in mathematical science occupations contributed £208 billion to the economy in a single year – that’s 10 per cent of the workforce contributing 16 per cent of the economy. What’s the Use? asks why there is such a vast gulf between public perceptions of mathematics and reality. It shows how mathematics is vital, often in surprising ways, behind the scenes of daily life. How politicians pick their voters. How an absurd little puzzle solved 300 years ago leads to efficient methods for kidney transplants. And how a bizarre, infinitely wiggly curve helps to optimise deliveries to your door.

ISBN: 9781781259429

In stock

Many people think mathematics is useless. They’re wrong. In the UK, the 2.8 million people employed in mathematical science occupations contributed 208 billion to the economy in a single year – that’s 10 per cent of the workforce contributing 16 per cent of the economy. ‘What’s the Use?’ asks why there is such a vast gulf between public perceptions of mathematics and reality. It shows how mathematics is vital, often in surprising ways, behind the scenes of daily life. How politicians pick their voters. How an absurd little puzzle solved 300 years ago leads to efficient methods for kidney transplants. How an Irish mathematician’s obsession with a new number system improves special effects in movies and computer games. How SatNav relies on at least six mathematical techniques. And how a bizarre, infinitely wiggly curve, helps to optimise deliveries to your door.

Additional information

Weight0.26 kg
Dimensions19.8 × 12.8 × 2.6 cm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Paperback

Pages

326

Language

English

Edition
Dewey

510.2 (edition:23)

Readership

College – higher education / Code: F

Gift Vouchers

Can’t find the right book, why not give a gift card and let them find that special book. 

Learn More >

Click and Collect/Special Requests

If we don’t have the book you want, we will do our best to order it for you and often have it in a few days.

Learn More >

Receive the latest news

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Get notified about new articles

Find the right book...