Topology antics

June 4, 2011 | by Sol |

Here is a very clever topology trick!

More information on Division by zero.

Hat tip to the multiplication of infinity.

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Forthcoming popular mathematical books from the Princeton University Press

31 May 2011 | by Sol |

Princeton University Press recently sent me a list of their forthcoming popular mathematical books. I look forward to review each of them, when they are published. I have given some attention, the Publisher of this blog that I enjoy your books.

In pursuit of Traveling salesman: mathematics on boundaries for the calculation of the William j. Cook (January 2012)

Cook tells the story of one of the most famous mathematical problems in the world. He starts in the 19th century when Irish mathematician w. r. Hamilton first defined the problem and bring the story to current, high-tech attempts to solve it.

At Princeton University Press Web site and on Facebook

Magical mathematics: the mathematical ideas that animate the great Magic Tricks by Persi Diaconis and Ron Graham (November 2011)

Diaconis and Graham merge two passions – card tricks and mathematics. In this book teaches you step-by-step how to amaze your friends with card tricks! Then, you will learn the math, that guarantees the surprising results.

At Princeton University Press Web site and on Facebook

Fascinating mathematical people: Interviews and memoirs edited by Donald j. Albers and Gerald l. Alexanderson (October 2011)

Hopefully you are a fan of mathematical people: profiles, Interviews and more mathematical people: Contemporary conversations as this is the third in that series. This time is of particular note interview with Dusa McDuff, but there are also interviews with Lars Ahlfors, Mary Cartwright, Atle Selberg, Tom Apostol, Jean Taylor, Fern Hunt, Harold Bacon, Thomas Banchoff, Leon Bankoff, Arthur Benjamin and Joseph Gallian.

At Princeton University Press Web site and on Facebook

The best written mathematics 2011 edited by Mircea Pitici (November 2011)

This annual book integrates the best writing on mathematics from periodicals, magazines and the Internet.

At Princeton University Press Web site and on Facebook

Nine algorithms that changed the future: the imaginative ideas that drive today's computers by John MacCormick (February 2012)

MacCormick describes algorithms that are used in computing – page ranking, search optimization, image recognition, encryption, and others.

At Princeton University Press Web site and on Facebook

Number Crunching: Taming unruly computer problems from mathematical physics to Science Fiction by Paul Nahin (September 2011)

What would be dropped without a PUP math puzzle book – here Paul Nahin demonstrates how to use computers and physics can come together to solve difficult mathematical problems.

At Princeton University Press Web site and on Facebook

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Mathematica pasta recipes

June 5, 2011 | by Sol |

Even if you are not using Mathematica, you can enjoy this!

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Mathematica 8 Home Edition for $ 239 in June 2011

June 5, 2011 | by Sol |

If you are in the United States, and you intend to get Mathematica 8 Home Edition (and you are not a student or otherwise eligible for a discount), you can save almost 20% in June, if you purchase Mathematica from Wolfram Research via Amazon.com.

See here for more information.

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Giveaway: the Manga Guide to the universe

June 17th, 2011 | by Sol |

Nice remote control functionality no starch press gives a copy of their very new "the Manga Guide to the Universe" to one lucky wild about mathematics! the reader. And they will deliver it to anyone in the universe, even though they used the word "planet". So here is the deal. Leave a comment, tell me, you want to win. Remember to put your e-mail address in the comment. When I get 10 comments I want to turn off commenting for this post and I have Random.org pick a lucky winner. I want to send your e-mail address for no starch people and they provide you the book. If you're one of those people who checks this blog continuously for updates, you might have a 10% chance to win the book. Sweet!

From the book's Web page:

Join Kanna, Kanta, Yamane and Gloria in The Manga Guide to the universe, where they explore our solar system, milky way and distant galaxies in search of the greatest mysteries of the universe: dark matter, cosmic expansion and the Big Bang.

As you rocket across the night sky, you will be familiar with modern astronomy and Astrophysics, as well as classical discoveries and theories as they are built. You'll learn why some scientists believe finding space life is inevitable!

Note that the ink on the books to be dry so no starch Press book winner not shipping until the week of June 27.

Good luck!

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Review: The number sense

13Th June 2011 | by Sol |

Oxford University Press sent me a review copy of The number sense: how the mind creates mathematics, revised and updated edition of Stanislas Dehaene. The book is an update of the original version, which was released in 1997.

The author writes in the foreword of this new edition, that the objective of the first edition of the book was

"to bring together all the facts about how the brain operates elementary arithmetic, and prove that a new and promising field of research, ripe with empirical, Dawning."

This new edition updates the reader about the results within the numerical cognition. Wikipedia has a nice introduction to the topic, including a list of questions in the Centre of the field.

How non-human animals process numerosity? How do infants acquire an understanding of numbers (and how much is inborn)? How do humans associate linguistic symbols to numerical quantities? What lies behind our ability to perform complex calculations these capabilities? What are the neural bases of these abilities, both humans and non-humans? What metaphorical capacities and processes allow us to extend our numerical understanding in complex domains such as the concept of infinity, of infinitesimal or the concept of limit in calculus?

Like most of the popular mathematical books I read, I have not read "The number sense" from cover to cover. When I wanted to take a break from some other task I lodge a book and read a paragraph or three. I was not about the book streamed (as one Amazon reviewer expressed concern over) or whether it had consistency, but I would be fascinated by interesting stories number sense and I was not disappointed.

Chapter 6, Geniuses, and Prodi gies, was my favorite part of the book. Dehaeny tells of a seriously disabled autistic man who can instantly factor of three-digit numbers, and who can say, in another, if a three-digit number is prime minister or not. Dehaeny compares so self-absorbed man to great Ramanujan. What has two common? Dehaeny claim that both men have a relationship with numbers that far exceed the ordinary. So, there is the question of mathematical talent is a biological gift. And there is a guided exploration to the passion to develop talents in mathematics role. Finally, explains Dehaeny some techniques lightning calculators uses to perform their feats. All this in one chapter.

No discussion of number sense would be complete without an exploration of how infants relates to numbers. And if it is not interesting enough, then how about the question of the meaning of the numbers of animals? Talk about issues, I usually like to books which asks fascinating questions, and this makes. Here are some examples.

The numbers have color and occupy space?In what age are children be able to tell the difference between two and three?What the fact that a dozen people in the world suffering from epileptic fits only during the execution of arithmetic (but not other intellectual activities) tells us about the human brain?How can an idiot sçavans with IQs of 50 or less, perform calendar arithmetic delafgørelser?How has our understanding of number sense developed in the 15 years since the first edition of the book was published?

I liked "Number sense." It is a well-written and very exciting book. It is a nice blend of psychology, brain biology with light Math.

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Wild about Math blogs 5/27/11

June 3rd, 2011 | by Sol |

Welcome to wild about Math blogs!

This is the last edition. If you want to put on your own personal Math blog carnival, I recommend you follow the large list of blogs at Mathblogging.org and let us all know about the items you like. I trøde, I had a rather large list of Math blogs in my RSS reader; their list is much larger. You can subscribe to parts or all of their list via RSS and you can even follow the Twitter feeds of a bunch of Math bloggers.

I discovered some really wonderful BBC Math radio shows. See here.

Math teachers play Carnival # 38 is up on mathematics and multimedia.

I have spend time on the website, strong Math Pickle enjoys the simple yet deep and difficult to solve mathematical puzzles and games there since "inspired people" are particularly noteworthy. There are some familiar faces on the page, Martin Gardner, We Hart and James Tanton to name a few. And there are a lot of people I don't know much about whom I have read on. Here is an inspired person from the list:

Leo Moser seems to have been the first person who are in favour of unresolved problems used in K-12 education. He asked many hard problems with child-like eagerness: "what is the area in at least the House that a device worm can live comfortably?" importance which shape can cover a worm regardless of how he curls up?

And also from the site Math Pickle is a video of a fun division games with some deep things happening under the surface.

MAA NumberADay has an interesting bit in number theory:

The product of four primes in a prime quadruplet (with the exception of 5, 7, 11, 13) always ends in 189. Example: 101 x 103 x 107 x 109 = 121, 330, 189.

I was curious about why this should be and I got this tip from Wikipedia:

All primary quadruplets except {5, 7, 11, 13} is of the form {30n + 11, 30n + 13, 30n + 17, 30n + 19} for some integer n. (this structure is necessary to ensure that none of the four prime numbers are divisible by 2, 3 or 5).

You can see why the product should end in 189 (apart from the first set)?

Sue on Math Math writes has a challenging Math problem from "Rediscovering mathematics, by Shai Simonson."

Finally, here is a funny number line cartoon from xkcd.

Hat tip to Ars Mathematica.

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