Description

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From Sudoku to Quantum Mechanics, Unraveling the Mysteries of Mathematics

What's the formula for changing intimidation to exhilaration? When it comes to math, it's The Handy Math Answer Book From a history dating back to prehistoric times and ancient Greece to how we use math in our everyday lives, this fascinating and informative guide addresses the basics of algebra, calculus, geometry, and trigonometry, and then proceeds to practical applications. You'll find easy-to-follow explanations of how math is used in daily financial and market reports, weather forecasts, real estate valuations, games, and measurements of all kinds. In an engaging question-and-answer format, more than 1,000 everyday math questions and concepts are tackled and explained, including ... What are a googol and a googolplex? What are some of the basic "building blocks" of geometry? What is a percent? How do you multiply fractions? What are some of the mathematics behind global warming? What does the philosophy of mathematics mean? What is a computer"app"? What's the difference between wet and dry measurements when you're cooking? How often are political polls wrong? How do you figure out a handicap in golf and bowling? How does the adult brain process fractions?

And many, many more

For parents, teachers, students, and anyone seeking additional guidance and clarity on their mathematical quest, The Handy Math Answer Book is the perfect guide to understanding the world of numbers bridging the gap between left- and right-brained thinking. Appendices on Measurements and Conversion Factors plus Common Formulas for Calculating Areas and Volumes of shapes are also included. Its helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness.

About the Author

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Patricia Barnes-Svarney is the author of "The New York Public Library Science Desk Reference" and "When the Earth Moves: Rogue Earthquakes, Tremors, and Aftershocks," as well as hundreds of articles for science magazines and journals. Thomas E. Svarney is a scientist and the coauthor with Patricia Barnes-Svarney of numerous books, including "The Oryx Guide to Natural History," " Skies of Fury: Weather Weirdness Around the World," and several titles in the Handy Answer Book series. They live in Endicott, New York.