Overview

Mistakes in mathematical reasoning can range from outlandish blunders to deep and subtle oversights that evade even the most watchful eye. This book represents the second collection of such errors to be compiled by Edward Barbeau. Like Barbeau's previous book, Mathematical Fallacies, Flaws and Flimflam, material is drawn from a variety of sources including the work of students, textbooks, the media, and even professional mathematicians. The errors presented here serve both to entertain, and to emphasize the need to subject even the most ""obvious"" assertions to rigorous scrutiny, as intuition and facile reasoning can often be misleading. Each item is carefully analysed and the source of the error is exposed. All students and teachers of mathematics, from school to university level, will find this book both enlightening and entertaining.

Full Product Details

9780883859131

Table of Contents

Reviews

'I think no lover of Martin Gardner topics can afford not to add this book to his or her collection.' The European Mathematical Society (euro-math-soc.eu)

Author Information

Michael Henle is a professor of mathematics at Oberlin College. He is the author of several books including ""Which Numbers are Real?"" published by the MAA in 2012. Trained as a functional analysis, he also writes on combinatorial subjects and geometry. He is serving as editor of The College Mathematics Journal through to 2013. Brian Hopkins is a professor of mathematics at Saint Peter's University in Jersey City, New Jersey. He won, with Robin Wilson, the 2005 George Polya Award, edited the 2008 MAA Notes volume Resources for Teaching Discrete Mathematics, and was given the 2011 MAA New Jersey Section Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics. Much of his research stems from Bulgarian Solitaire, a topic popularized by Martin Gardner. Hopkins will be the editor of the College Mathematics Journal from 2014 to 2018.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available