{"product_id":"the-moment-of-proof-9780195139198","title":"The Moment of Proof","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen Archimedes, while bathing, suddenly hit upon the principle of buoyancy, he ran wildly through the streets of Syracuse, stark naked, crying eureka! \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Moment of Proof\u003c\/em\u003e, Donald Benson attempts to convey to general readers the feeling of eureka--the joy of discovery--that mathematicians feel when they first encounter an elegant proof.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This is not an introduction to mathematics so much as an introduction to the pleasures of mathematical thinking. And indeed the delights of this book are many and varied. The book is packed with intriguing conundrums--Loyd's Fifteen Puzzle, the Petersburg Paradox, the Chaos Game, the Monty Hall Problem, the Prisoners' Dilemma--as well as many mathematical curiosities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe learn how to perform the arithmetical proof called casting out nines and are introduced to Russian peasant multiplication, a bizarre way to multiply numbers that actually works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book shows us how to calculate the number of ways a chef can combine ten or fewer spices to flavor his soup (1,024) and how many people we would have to gather in a room to have a 50-50 chance of two having the same birthday (23 people).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut most important, Benson takes us step by step through these many mathematical wonders, so that we arrive at the solution much the way a working scientist would--and with much the same feeling of surprise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Every fan of mathematical puzzles will be enthralled by \u003cem\u003eThe Moment of Proof\u003c\/em\u003e. Indeed, anyone interested in mathematics or in scientific discovery in general will want to own this book.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Donald C. Benson\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press, USA\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/14\/2000\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 352\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.30lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.25h x 7.50w x 0.72d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780195139198\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDonald C. Benson\u003c\/strong\u003e is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of California, Davis. He lives in Davis, California.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThis title is not returnable\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oxford University Press, USA","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":40377894961267,"sku":"0195139194","price":98.58,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/9255\/0515\/products\/img_615d5b25-c44e-4f7e-b548-198304958d23.jpg?v=1661261672","url":"https:\/\/bookstorenmore.com\/products\/the-moment-of-proof-9780195139198","provider":"Bookstore N More","version":"1.0","type":"link"}