“paul j nahin”

What are your chances of dying on your next flight, being called for jury duty, or winning the lottery? We all encounter probability problems in our everyday lives. In this collection of twenty-one puzzles, Paul Nahin challenges us to think creatively about the laws of probability as they apply in p... More

The author tells the 2000-year old history of one  of  mathematics’ most  elusive numbers, the square root of minus one, also  known  as  i, re-creating  the baffling mathematical problems that conjured  it  up  and the colourful characters who tried to solve them. Addressing readers wit... More

"Here's a gem of a book...all peppered with delightful notes from science fiction films, novels, and comics. I can't turn a page without finding a jewel". -- Clifford Stoll, author of The Cuckoo's EggThe research that has gone into this book is impressive". -- Nature"For professional physicists much... More

"Dispelling many common myths about the origin of the mystic 'imaginary' unit, Nahin tells the story of "i" from a historic as well as human perspective. His enthusiasm and informal style easily catch on to the reader. "An Imaginary Tale" is a must for anyone curious about the evolution of our numbe... More

"If you ever wondered about the beauties and powers of mathematics, this book is a treasure trove. Paul Nahin uses Euler's formula as the magic key to unlock a wealth of surprising consequences, ranging from number theory to electronics, presented clearly, carefully, and with verve."--Peter Pesic, S... More

"Nahin provides beautiful applications of calculus, differential equations, and game theory. If you are pursuing an enjoyable collection of mathematical problems and the stories behind them, then your search ends here."--Arthur Benjamin, Harvey Mudd College"I know of no better way to grasp the basic... More

"Paul Nahin's "Digital Dice" is a marvelous book, one that is even better than his "Duelling Idiots," Nahin presents twenty-one great probability problems, from George Gamow's famous elevator paradox (as corrected by Donald Knuth) to a bewildering puzzle involving two rolls of toilet paper, and he s... More

"Dispelling many common myths about the origin of the mystic 'imaginary' unit, Nahin tells the story of "i" from a historic as well as human perspective. His enthusiasm and informal style easily catch on to the reader. "An Imaginary Tale" is a must for anyone curious about the evolution of our numbe... More

"This is a delightful account of how the concepts of maxima, minima, and differentiation evolved with time. The level of mathematical sophistication is neither abstract nor superficial and it should appeal to a wide audience."--Ali H. Sayed, University of California, Los AngelesWhat is the best way ... More

"He was a man who often was incapable of conducting himself properly in the most elementary social interactions. His only continuing contacts with women were limited to his mother, nieces, and housekeepers. He was a man who knew the power of money and desired it, but refused to work for it, preferri... More