Customer Reviews

Maths and stats made easy - By: , 10 Dec 2005
I recently purchased another math text with a view to owning a book concerning interesting issuesin the area of mathematics. That title proved a little complex & probably more suited to a math expert rather than an interested outsider like myself.

Starbird & Burger's text is an excellent overview of current issuesin mathematics & statistics, with some interesting insight as to how mathematics is (1) a surprisingly large part of everyday life & (2) a very interesting exercisein understanding quite complex ideas.

While the book is a slow starter, & may appear a little simplistic initally, it soon grows into a very interesting readin a variety of subject areas.

Some personal favorite subjects covered are:
* Intuition versus reality - folding paper & fitting all humankind into a box
* Making sense of data - some great stats examples of why to be careful when interpreting infomation
* A great explanation of the fourth dimension

The books illustrations are a big bonus, with somein particular making the subject matter much easier to digest (e.g. cards on a table edge, the fourth dimension)

A great book for those who love mathematics, but are perhaps stronger conceptually than thay may bein the mechanics of the subject.