The Joy of Mathematics

by Theoni Pappas

Overview

Part of the joy of mathematics is that it is everywhere-in soap bubbles, electricity, da Vinci's masterpieces, even in an ocean wave. Written by the well-known mathematics teacher consultant, this volume's collection of over 200 clearly illustrated mathematical ideas, concepts, puzzles, and games shows where they turn up in the "real" world. You'll find out what a googol is, visit hotel infinity, read a thorny logic problem that was stumping them back in the 8th century.

THE JOY OF MATHEMATICS is designed to be opened at random…it's mini essays are self-contained providing the reader with an enjoyable way to explore and experience mathematics at its best.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780933174658
Publisher:	Wide World Publishing
Publication date:	01/23/1993
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

	The evolution of base ten	2
	The Pythagorean Theorem	4
	Optical illusions and computer graphics	5
	The cycloid	6
	A triangle to a square problem	9
	Halley's comet	10
	The impossible tribar	13
	The quipu	14
	Calligraphy, typography and mathematics	16
	The wheat and the chessboard problem	17
	Probability and [pi]	18
	Earthquakes and logarithms	20
	Parabolic ceiling and the Capitol	22
	Computers, counting and electricity	24
	Topo - a mathematical game	26
	Fibonacci sequence	28
	A twist to the Pythagorean Theorem	30
	Trinity of rings-a topological problem	31
	Anatomy and the golden section	32
	Catenary and parabolic curves	34
	The T problem	35
	Thales and the Great Pyramid	36
	Hotel Infinity	37
	Crystals - nature's polyhedra	38
	Pascal's triangle	40
	Mathematics of the billiard table	42
	The electron's path and geometry	43
	The Moebius strip and the Klein bottle	44
	A Sam Loyd puzzle	47
	Mathematics and paperfolding	48
	The Fibonacci trick	51
	The evolution of mathematical symbols	52
	Some geometric designs of Leonardo da Vinci	55
	Ten historic dates	56
	Napoleon's theorem	57
	Lewis Carroll-the mathematician	58
	Counting on fingers	60
	A twist to the Moebius strip	61
	Heron's theorem	62
	A look at Gothic architecture	63
	Napier's bones	64
	Art and projective geometry	66
	Infinity and the circle	68
	The amazing track	69
	Persian horses and Sam Loyd's puzzle	70
	The lunes	72
	Hexagons in nature	74
	The googol and the googolplex	76
	A magic cube	77
	Fractals-real or imaginary	78
	Nanoseconds-measuring time on computers	80
	Geodesic dome of Leonardo da Vinci	81
	Magic squares	82
	A special "magic" square	87
	The Chinese triangle	88
	The death of Archimedes	89
	A non-Euclidean world	90
	Cannon balls and pyramids	93
	Conchoid of Nicomedes	94
	The trefoil knot	96
	The magic square of Benjamin Franklin	97
	Irrational numbers and the Pythagorean Theorem	98
	Prime numbers	100
	The golden rectangle	102
	Making a tri-tetra flexagon	107
	Finding infinity in small places	108
	The five Platonic solids	110
	The pyramid method-making magic squares	112
	The Kepler-Poinsot solids	113
	The false spiral optical illusion	114
	The icosahedron and the golden rectangle	115
	Zeno's paradox-Achilles and the tortoise	116
	The mystic hexagram	118
	The penny puzzle	119
	Tessellations	120
	Diophantus' riddle	123
	The Konigsberg Bridge problem	124
	Networks	126
	Aztec calendar	128
	The impossible trio-three ancient construction problems	130
	Ancient Tibetan magic square	133
	Perimeter, area, and infinite series	134
	The checkerboard problem	136
	Pascal's calculator	137
	Isaac Newton and calculus	138
	Japanese abacus	139
	The proof of 1=2	140
	The symmetry of crystals	141
	The mathematics of music	142
	Numerical palindromes	146
	The unexpected exam paradox	147
	Babylonian cuneiform text	148
	The spiral of Archimedes	149
	The evolution of mathematical ideas	150
	The four color map problem takes a turn	152
	Art and dynamic symmetry	154
	Transfinite numbers	156
	Logic problem	159
	The snowflake curve	160
	Zero-when and where	162
	Pappus' theorem and the nine coin puzzle	163
	The Japanese magic circle & Gauss' problem	164
	Spherical dome and water distillation	165
	The helix	166
	Magic "line"	169
	Mathematics and architecture	170
	History of optical illusions	172
	Trisecting the equilateral triangle	174
	The wood, water, and grain problem	175
	Charles Babbage, the Leonardo da Vinci of computers	176
	Mathematics and Moslem art	178
	A Chinese magic square	179
	Infinity and limits	180
	Counterfeit coin puzzle	181
	The Parthenon-an optical and mathematical design	182
	Probability and Pascal's triangle	183
	The involute curve	187
	The pentagon, the pentagram, and the golden triangle	188
	Three men facing a wall problem	190
	Geometric fallacy and the Fibonacci sequence	191
	Mazes	192
	Chinese "checkerboards"	195
	Conic sections	196
	The screw of Archimedes	198
	Irradiation optical illusion	199
	The Pythagorean Theorem and President Garfield	200
	The wheel paradox of Aristotole & Galileo's solution	202
	Stonehenge	203
	How many dimensions are there?	204
	Computers and dimensions	206
	The "double" Moebius strip	207
	Paradoxical curve-the space-filling curve	208
	The abacus	209
	Mathematics and weaving	210
	Mersenne's number	211
	The tangram puzzle	212
	Infinite vs finite	213
	Triangular, square, and pentagonal numbers	214
	Eratosthenes measures the Earth	215
	Projective geometry and linear programming	216
	The spider and the fly	218
	Mathematics and soap bubbles	219
	The coin paradox	220
	Hexaminoes	221
	The Fibonacci sequence and nature	222
	The monkey and the coconuts	226
	Spiders and spirals	228
	Solutions	229
	Index	235
	About the author	241