Full name: Humble Pi: A Comedy of Maths Errors

Author: Matt Parker Rank: Rating: Original Rating: Pop Rating: Genres/categories: Science, Non Fiction Purchase/reserch links: LibraryThing Goodreads Amazon ISBNs: 9780241360194 9780241360231 0241360196 0241360234

The author explains how the misuse of math creates problems. Mathematical errors often include mistaking units (pounds for kilograms, feet for meters), and misunderstanding probabilistic and statistical statements. Parker also presents examples of users of computer software not fully understanding the limitations of packaged programs. The only topic that is somewhat technical and requires a bit of effort to follow is Parker's explanation of how the inexactitudes introduced by inputting and outputting date in decimal form leads to problems because the internal computations are actually done in binary. Yet, Parker has a sly wit; so, although all this sounds very serious, in fact, the writing style is breezy and, in some parts, extremely funny. Similar books: More Murderous Maths by Kjartan Poskitt Kiss My Math by Danica McKellar Math Doesn't Suck by Danica McKellar Things to Make and Do in the Fourth Dimension by Matt Parker The Grapes of Math by Alex Bellos The Simpsons and their Mathematical Secrets by Simon Singh Fractals, Googols, and Other Mathematical Tales by Theoni Pappas Keys to Infinity by Clifford A. Pickover Murderous Maths by Kjartan Poskitt Letters to a Young Mathematician by Ian Stewart How Not to Be Wrong by Jordan Ellenberg The Joy of x by Steven Strogatz The Art of the Infinite by Robert Kaplan Four Colors Suffice by Robin Wilson How to Cut a Cake by Ian Stewart Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben Mycelium Running by Paul Stamets This Phenomenal Life by Misha Blaise Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer