Why Does Math Work . If It's Not Real?: Episodes in Unreasonable Effectiveness

by Dragan Radulovic

Overview

According to G. H. Hardy, the 'real' mathematics of the greats like Fermat and Euler is 'useless,' and thus the work of mathematicians should not be judged on its applicability to real-world problems. Yet, mysteriously, much of mathematics used in modern science and technology was derived from this 'useless' mathematics. Mobile phone technology is based on trig functions, which were invented centuries ago. Newton observed that the Earth's orbit is an ellipse, a curve discovered by ancient Greeks in their futile attempt to double the cube. It is like some magic hand had guided the ancient mathematicians so their formulas were perfectly fitted for the sophisticated technology of today. Using anecdotes and witty storytelling, this book explores that mystery. Through a series of fascinating stories of mathematical effectiveness, including Planck's discovery of quanta, mathematically curious readers will get a sense of how mathematicians develop their concepts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781009054812
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	06/08/2023
Pages:	200
Sales rank:	526,776
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.38(d)

About the Author

Dragan Radulović is a theoretical mathematician who also publishes in the area of molecular biology. He is an ardent traveler and adventurist. His previous book, On the Road Again – 2018, is about his road trip through Iran and Afghanistan. After stints at Princeton University and Yale University, he moved to South Florida, where he surfs, writes, and does mathematics.

Table of Contents

Preface; Acknowledgements; Part I. Rare Axioms; 1. Introducing the Mystery; 2. On Classical Mathematics; 3. On Modern Physics; Intermezzo: What Have We Learned?; 4. On Computer Games; 5. On Mathematical Logic; 6. On Postulates and Axioms; Part II. The Oracle; 7. Introducing the Oracle; 8. On Probability; 9. The Oracle, Its Majesty; Epilogue: The Eternal Blueprint; Post Scriptum: On Mathematical Grand Design; Appendix; Recommended Reading; Index.