The Mathematics of Politics

Mathematics is often misunderstood and believed to have nothing to do with politics. This book counters this impression by focusing on mathematical reasoning about politics, such as choosing winners of elections, apportioning congressional seats, and making decisions in situations of conflict and uncertainty. It also examines the Electoral College system used in the United States to select a president.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 478 pages
Publication date: 21 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Mathematics is often misunderstood, leading to the belief that it has nothing to say about politics. However, this book challenges this notion by exploring mathematical reasoning
reasoning about politics. The second edition of this popular book focuses specifically on mathematical reasoning in decision-making. By utilizing mathematics, wasted effort can be avoided in the pursuit of ideal solutions that may be impossible to achieve.

In the first three parts of the book, the authors address three political questions:

Is there a good way to choose winners of elections?
Is there a good way to apportion congressional seats?
Is there a good way to make decisions in situations of conflict and uncertainty?

In the fourth and final part of the book, the authors examine the Electoral College system used in the United States to select a president. They bring together ideas introduced in the previous three parts of the book to provide a comprehensive analysis of the system.

By delving into mathematical reasoning about politics, this book offers a fresh perspective on the role of mathematics in understanding and influencing political decisions. It demonstrates that mathematics can be a valuable tool for analyzing and evaluating political systems, and can help us make more informed and effective choices in our daily lives.

Weight: 880g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032477091
Edition number: 2 ed