Maths of Life and Death

Kit Yates' book Maths is the story of the world around us, and the wisdom it gives us can be the difference between success and disaster. He explores the true stories of life-changing events in which the application of mathematics has played a critical role, and arms us with simple mathematical rules and tools that can help us make better decisions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 22 July 2021
Publisher: Quercus Publishing

This is an exquisitely interesting book. It's a deeply serious one, too, and, for those like me who have little maths, it's delightfully readable - IAN MCEWAN. Kit Yates is a natural storyteller. Through fascinating stories and examples, he shows how maths is the beating heart of so much of modern life. An exciting new voice in the world of science communication - MARCUS DU SAUTOY. Used wisely, mathematics can save your life. Used unwisely, it can ruin it. A lucid and enthralling account of why maths matters in everyone's life. A real eye-opener. - Prof Ian Stewart FRS, author of Do Dice Play God? Maths is the story of the world around us, and the wisdom it gives us can be the difference between success and disaster. We are all doing maths all the time, from the way we communicate with each other to the way we travel, from how we work to how we relax. Many of us are aware of this. But few of us really appreciate the full power of maths - the extent to which its influence is not only in every office and every home, but also in every courtroom and hospital ward. In this eye-opening and extraordinary book, Yates explores the true stories of life-changing events in which the application - or misapplication - of mathematics has played a critical role: patients crippled by faulty genes and entrepreneurs bankrupted by faulty algorithms; innocent victims of miscarriages of justice and the unwitting victims of software glitches. We follow stories of investors who have lost fortunes and parents who have lost children, all because of mathematical misunderstandings. Along the way, Yates arms us with simple mathematical rules and tools that can help us make better decisions in our increasingly quantitative society. You will discover that maths is not only relevant to your everyday life, but also to the big decisions that affect our world. You will learn how to use maths to make better choices in your personal and professional life, and how to avoid making mistakes that can cost you dearly. So, whether you're a student, a business professional, or just someone who wants to understand the world around you better, this is the book for you. It will open your eyes to the power of maths and show you how to use it to your advantage.

Weight: 254g
Dimension: 131 x 197 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787475403