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A Mathematical Nature Walk
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Format: Paperback / softback
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See moreHow heavy is that cloud? Why can you see farther in rain than in fog? Why are the droplets on that spider web spaced apart so evenly? This book presents ninety-six questions about many common natural phenomena - and a few uncommon ones - and then shows how to answer them using mostly basic mathematics.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
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Description
How heavy is that cloud? Why can you see farther in rain than in fog? Why are the droplets on that spider web spaced apart so evenly? If you have ever asked questions like these while outdoors, and wondered how you might figure out the answers, this is a book for you.
An entertaining and informative collection of fascinating puzzles from the natural world around us, A Mathematical Nature Walk will delight anyone who loves nature or math or both. John Adam presents ninety-six questions about many common natural phenomena—and a few uncommon ones—and then shows how to answer them using mostly basic mathematics.
Can you weigh a pumpkin just by carefully looking at it? Why can you see farther in rain than in fog? What causes the variations in the colours of butterfly wings, bird feathers, and oil slicks? And why are large haystacks prone to spontaneous combustion? These are just a few of the questions you'll find inside.
Many of the problems are illustrated with photos and drawings, and the book also has answers, a glossary of terms, and a list of some of the patterns found in nature. About a quarter of the questions can be answered with arithmetic, and many of the rest require only precalculus. But regardless of math background, readers will learn from the informal descriptions of the problems and gain a new appreciation of the beauty of nature and the mathematics that lies behind it.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
A Mathematical Nature Walk, by John A. Adam, is praised for its engaging blend of mathematics and natural observation, providing readers, particularly those familiar with calculus, with intriguing insights into the natural world. The book is warmly received for its playful and thought-provoking approach, encouraging readers to apply mathematical concepts to everyday observations in nature. Reviewers commend Adam’s accessible writing style and sense of humour, making complex ideas approachable and enjoyable, with suggestions that it’s a useful resource for both educators and curious minds.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780691152653
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 02 October 2011
Country: United States
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Illustration: 17 color illus. 22 halftones. 97 line illus.
Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Width: 152.0mm
Height: 235.0mm
Weight: 454g
Pages: 280
About the Author
John A. Adam is professor of mathematics at Old Dominion University. He is the coauthor of Guesstimation: Solving the World's Problems on the Back of a Cocktail Napkin and the author of Mathematics in Nature (both Princeton).
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