What’s the point of imaginary numbers? Why can predicting the weather lead to chaos? What’s the math behind a padlock in my browser’s window? And why do Fibonacci numbers breed like rabbits?
Mathematics: A Crash Course
answers all these questions and many more in a beautifully illustrated introduction to math. The essential ideas and theories are covered, from the earliest tallies from more than 40,000 years ago, through the development of algebra and geometry in the classical era, and to how math is applied today. Together, you will build up the knowledge to talk about math without getting pi on your face. This accessible introduction to math includes: • 52 topics explaining the key ideas and concepts • timelines to show how the study of mathematics has developed from the past to the present • biographies of key people.