The Jungles of Randomness: A Mathematical Safari Book + PRICE WATCH * Amazon pricing is not included in price watch

The Jungles of Randomness: A Mathematical Safari Book

We use the word random as though we understood what it meant, but, of course, its superficial meaning only betrays our deep ignorance of what is really going on. Random is mostly used to label anything we can't predict, from the roll of a die to our spouse's next major purchase, but what's actually happening to cause the unanticipated results? Ivars Peterson makes this complexity simple in The Jungles of Randomness. As the mathematics and physics editor of Science News, Peterson knows his topic thoroughly and writes with a flair that stimulates the imagination. Whether telling about snowflake-shaped drums; brilliant, eccentric Paul Erdös's geometrical fantasies; or unbreakable and nearly unbreakable codes, he knows just when and where to open a topic a bit further to provoke greater insights. The eight gorgeous color plates and dozens of illustrations are well chosen and complement the text without overwhelming it. Inevitably, The Jungles of Randomness touches on subjects as diverse as molecular biology, engineering, and entomology, but it stays rooted in the field from which our understanding of complexity first arose: mathematics. A fascinating and underreported field, math is finally getting the mainstream attention it has always deserved, and it's not hard to understand why with exciting books like this pointing the way. Where this will lead us is anyone's guess, but the die is cast. --Rob Lightner Read More

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  • Product Description

    Advance Praise for The Jungles of Randomness "Ivars Peterson is the clearest expositor of mathematics today. His new book takes a lively book at one of the hottest areas of mathematical research." —Paul Hoffman former Editor-in-Chief, Discover magazine "Ivars Peterson is the heir-apparent to Martin Gardner as the philosopher-king of mathematics for the public. The Jungles of Randomness is the brightest jewel in his crown so far. Another terrific book." —Julian Simon, Economist "In The Jungles of Randomness, Ivars Peterson finds a fascinating collection of circumstances where chance intervenes in our lives and in the world around us. Every reader, regardless of background, is bound to find something new and interesting in this book." —Robert Osserman author of Poetry of the Universe "When readers accompany Ivars Peterson on his expedition into the jungles of uncertainty, the one certain thing is that they will enjoy the trip." —William Dunham author of Journey Through Genius A Selection of the Book-Of-The-Month Club Praise for The Mathematical Tourist "A top-notch survey … far from being old and musty, mathematics is alive, vital and vibrant, full of unanswered questions that Peterson makes accessible to non-experts." —Los Angeles Times "He plumbs such delicious arcana as knot theory, cellular automata, and surgery on manifolds. One can learn a lot from this book." —The New York Times

  • 0471164496
  • 9780471164494
  • Ivars Peterson
  • 6 October 1997
  • John Wiley & Sons
  • Hardcover (Book)
  • 264
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