The Math Behind...: Discover the Mathematics of Everyday Events - Softcover

This book's subtitle, Discover the Mathematics of Everyday Events, nicely summarizes what Beveridge--who has written several books on general mathematics--delivers in this engaging volume. Without getting weighed down by equations and computations and armed with straightforward dialogue, colorful graphics, a scattering of photographs, and an appealing, non-threatening style, Beveridge explores a multitude of topics... Readers will find much to spur their thinking, with topics spanning a broad spectrum... Even well-informed readers will find much that is unfamiliar and will likely end up pondering some of the ideas with an expanded level of insight and appreciation. The topics are grouped into seven broad categories, which lends structure to the content and avoids any sense of the approach feeling scattered... Highly recommended. All readers.-- (06/01/2018)

British professor Beveridge has written a fun, engaging book to read and browse. The entries (usually colorful two-page spreads) are grouped into seven categories: the human world, the natural world, technology, sports, entertainment, getting around, and the everyday. Each discusses a common issue (such as a traffic jam or a song stuck in your head) and explains the phenomenon using a variety of mathematical concepts, including probability and statistics, math laws, and formulas. An index is included. The writing is conversational, and the images are visually stimulating. The cover art is deceiving; the book is aimed at high-school students and the general public and is recommended for both reluctant and enthusiastic mathematicians.-- (11/21/2017)

Mathematician, teacher and author Beveridge does what he sets out to and shows that numbers can be fun and friendly in this entertaining book. Math lovers and the math-averse alike will be fascinated by Beveridge's explanations of how the digits of pi can and have been used to write poetry, how the Alhambra Palace in Spain employs geometry and patterns to create optical illusions, and how computer programs scan for plagiarism in college assignments and Shakespeare. The writing is light and amusing, and Beveridge presents the material in a deceptively simple fashion despite the complex principles often involved. The topics are organized into broad categories: the human world, the natural world, technology, sports, entertainment, getting around, and the everyday. Within each chapter, Beveridge explains the math involved in diverse subjects, such as the stock market, elections, tennis, Monopoly, and car crashes. Charts, diagrams, graphs, and other illustrations proliferate and are helpful in breaking down potentially difficult concepts. Whether readers are math geeks looking for new ways of applying mathematics principles or just curious to see how math might actually be applicable in everyday life, this fun, enlightening book will not disappoint.-- (12/11/2017)

An entertaining illustrated reference to the role of mathematics in everyday life.

The Math Behind... is a fascinating compilation of everyday events analyzed for their probability of occurring and how those odds are determined using mathematical equations and science. The book examines everything from how predictive text works to why buses come in threes and the likelihood that toast will land butter side down. Accessible and clear explanations, without dumbing down the science, and photographs and diagrams illustrate concepts and aid understanding.

There are six chapters. Here are some of the questions covered:

The human condition:

Why hipsters look the same
What are the chances of you even being born
What makes certain songs so catchy
Why we find some people more attractive than others

Sports and games:

The perfect 9-ball break in pool
How to play the lottery
How to take a free kick
The secret behind Michael Jordan's air time
Why the house always wins

From A to B:

The "causeless" traffic jam
Just how likely is a plane to crash
How long would it take a chicken to cross a road
Is it possible to have a car journey with no red lights

Rise of the machines:

How bitcoins work
How easy is it for a hacker to crack your password
How does predictive text work
How do scam emailers use probability

Chance and coincidence:

Does repeatedly clicking a mouse make it work any faster
The chances of meeting your soulmate
The six degrees of Kevin Bacon
How illusionists use mathematics

And another thing:

At what percentage does juice become flavored water
How penguins have developed the perfect huddle
The amount of G-force on a rollercoaster.

The Math Behind... is an entertaining, intelligent and different look at the world around us. Readers interested in probability and mathematics (and readers interested in just about anything else) will enjoy learning why their toast landed butter side down and whether they should spend another $5.00 on a lottery ticket.