Taming The Infinite The Story Of Mathematics From The First Numbers To Chaos Theory

Taming the Infinite

From ancient Babylon to the last great unsolved problems, Ian Stewart brings us his definitive history of mathematics. In his famous straightforward style, Professor Stewart explains each major development--from the first number systems to chaos theory--and considers how each affected society and changed everyday life forever. Maintaining a personal touch, he introduces all of the outstanding mathematicians of history, from the key Babylonians, Greeks and Egyptians, via Newton and Descartes, to Fermat, Babbage and Godel, and demystifies math's key concepts without recourse to complicated formulae. Written to provide a captivating historic narrative for the non-mathematician, Taming the Infinite is packed with fascinating nuggets and quirky asides, and contains 100 illustrations and diagrams to illuminate and aid understanding of a subject many dread, but which has made our world what it is today.

Taming the Infinite

User-Friendly Math for Parents

User-Friendly Numbers in Math for Parents shares stories of students’ reasoning, thinking, and sometimes misunderstandings about numbers - stories that provide the opportunity to see math differently. Most of the students are visual-spatial, creative, daydreamers who may miss the details in math, a characteristic of visual-spatial learners. Through these stories, parents will see mathematics through their child’s eyes, both the clarity and the confusion. Armed with this new sight, and therefore insight, parents will be able to talk differently with their child about the number language of math. By seeing numbers through “new eyes,” children and parents can take control of the math language and therefore, the mathematics. This book focuses more on the “why” reasons behind math number relationships, explained in plain English and with images that show number relationships. By including more images and fewer formulas, readers – especially the visual spatial learners – have a better chance of understanding how number organizers apply to different number types. Recognizing connections among number formats significantly reduces the impatience, frustration, and heartache around homework.