Bato, Papel, Gunting

                Unlike the previous books that were reviewed, the Rock, Paper, Scissors was more like an application of mathematics in our daily lives. It is an account of key ideas in game theory and strategies were given to achieve cooperation. Len Fisher seemed wrote the book not to scare people about different mathematical theories and analysis, he did not made the book complicated and it was like an informal approach on game theory to general audiences.

                The first chapter of the book described the Prisoner’s dilemma. It showed the possible consequences if the prisoners confess, the two of them will confess or one will confess and the other will not. In this test, self-interest was showed.

                The second chapter focused on the “I cut and you choose”. In this part, concept of minimax and fair division was introduced. Fisher had shared one of his experiences in this, it is when he had trouble in shooting fireworks and his consequence was to yield the fireworks with his brother and he had realized now that it was an application of minimax principle. Fisher considered “the seven deadly dilemmas” as the seven most interesting game theory problems in the third chapter in which he gave strategies on how to solve the problem such as the free rider issue and the game of chicken.

                Fourth chapter was about the famous “rock, paper, scissors” game. Reading this made me realize that this game can solve conflicts just like in a small competition wherein two teams will have to break the tie. I have also encountered this one, especially when playing with my cousins when I was a kid. The outcome of the game will choose who wins and who will not. The last four chapters were all about cooperation in a game on how we can gain trust and to have an effective bargain.

                Though I like A Certain Ambiguity than this book but still, I enjoyed it because it is not that technical that will make you dizzy with different theories and analysis. The chapter I liked the most was the fourth chapter because it reminded me of my childhood and also, recently we played at the Atrium and used the “rock, paper, scissors” game to know whose team plays first.

                The totality of the book amused me because it did not just gave strategies in different games it also showed how your decision can affect people around you or how theirs may affect you. It is like a domino effect where in a certain decision is not merely applicable to one person, it may affect many people.

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Curiosity Filled the Cabinet

“I incline to the view that a miscellany should be miscellaneous, and this one is,” Stewart notes in his introduction of Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities.

Ian Stewart believed that the most interesting part of math cannot be taught inside the four walls of the classroom. Rather, the most fun part can be discovered elsewhere. Knowing this, he collected his ‘curiosities’ and piled them up in his cabinet. Amazing. I can’t even use up the pages of my own math notebook yet he filled up a whole cabinet.

His curiosities included mindboggling yet entertaining applications of math like puzzles, geometry, chaos theory, and keys to Fermat’s Last Theorem. He even offered steps on how to make a pop-up dodecahedron. Interestingly enough, he even explained why numbers can’t be divided by zero. His cabinet is filled with mathematical enigmas.

I can say that this book was much more bearable than his previous one. There was more interaction with this because it contained puzzles which are sometimes unsolvable but still interesting enough to make you grab a pen and paper. His wardrobe opens up a new world. Not Narnia, but just as magical.

Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities: A Book Review

“I incline to the view that a miscellany should be miscellaneous, and this one is”, Stewart notes in his introduction. Stewart, a mathematician at the University of Warwick in England, offers this book of puzzles, paradoxes, brainteasers, tricks, facts and jokes, which he accurately calls “curiosities.” 

Steward has indeed made an easier, logical and fun approach in math. Knowing that the most exciting math is not taught in school and beyond the four walls of the classroom, Stewart has spent years in constructing intriguing mathematical games, stories, facts, puzzled which are made for the adventurous mind. This book reveals the most exciting math puzzles made by Professor Stewart himself. As you go through each page, you will find different logic and geometry puzzles. Some problems may be easier to begin with but becomes more interesting and challenging as you leaf through each page. If you have come across articles on what are Fibonacci and Golden numbers, you would actually understand the logic behind those formulas and numbers. Some logical problems include a pop-up dodecahedron and the P=NP problems which you may win a million dollars if you solve it. Articles and facts on famous mathematicians- the logic behind their formulas are also included. Indeed, Stewart has made a challenging yet approachable way in understanding math- and I can say this with conviction because as you go through each page and solve a puzzle, mathematics exposes the semblance of reality that we are happy with. Indeed, there are hundreds of facts and puzzles that may look difficult as it may seem- yet Stewart presented it with enthusiasm and good humor.

No, Professor Ian Stewart’s Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities has no story in his book, no, parable nor moral nor to rebuke my failure to master Calculus or to identify the difference between a prime and a Mersenne prime-there is only delight and amazement as you go through the course of the book and self guilt toward my own idle response to the different mathematical challenges. 

A Certain Ambiguity: A Book Review

A Certain Ambiguity is a mathematical novel of ideas- a novel on which exposes mathematics and its mysteries. The story begins with a flashback experienced by the main character, Ravi, to the time his mathematician grandfather gave him a math problem to try on a calculator. The math problem given suggests gentleness and appreciation in the grandfather's relationship with his grandson and a solution might have on the boy. The grandfather died the next day, but the reader is left with the realization of the importance the memory of the grandfather played in Ravi's life. It is remarkable that in the absence of the grandfather's wise guidance the boy grows indifferent to mathematics.

The book is delightful and informative read. In the Epilogue, we learn that Ravi eventually preferred a career in mathematics than in Economics. We have understood that he had married Claire, a math student he met at the course. I was a little disappointed- for, while reading the book and sensing the evolving romance between Ravi and Claire; I'd been hoping that the authors would expand the side story into a sequel in the same genre. The book does a good job of presenting this point of view so that those who have never considered it this way can begin to have this sort of appreciation for mathematical logic. However, we soon learn that mathematics is not quite as perfect as we would like. The book does a great job of presenting this while still leaving us with an appreciation for mathematics despite its shortcomings. There is so much in this book, of philosophy; of mathematics. But one additional observation is well warranted-the authors have managed to present mathematics as a human endeavor by many timely excerpts from the diaries and correspondence of great mathematicians and scientists.  Though the rest of the book is mostly a work of fiction, it succeeded in achieving mathematics with a human face.

It is a smooth, easy read, despite the serious mathematics that threads through the book. There are people who will focus on the characters and the story and others who will focus on the mathematics, and others who will shift their attention back and forth between the two. 

Their past, our present, and future

Their past, our present, and future

To Infinity and Beyond a perfect descriptive tittle to how end a series of episodes that describes the past, present and future.  In this last episode of story of math, the story revolves around the concept where in there are 23 most important problems that were set out by David Hilbert, a young German Mathematician. These 23 most important mathematical problems was an immense challenge to those mathematicians who accepted the challenge of answering these unsolvable mathematical problems, thus, gaining triumph or failure. The first mathematical problem was understanding the meaning of infinity and giving it a mathematical precision. This problem was solved by Georg Cantor who spent his entire adult life understanding mathematics. Many mathematicians were like him, mathematicians who accepted the challenge, who devoting their entire life answering the different problems set out in front of them.  But, unlike any other theories, there are theories that are unable to be solved. Yet, even those who poses extraordinary mind fails to answer this theory, the Riemann’s theory.  Though, mathematicians weren’t able to be solved those problems they still seek to answer, making the unsolvable, answerable. Their reasons though not of money, but because it’s their passion, and for them the prestige that is acquired of solving what is being dreamt of answering is worth more, and for them they live to solve those mathematical equations, theories and formulas that each one of them can’t, giving them a life worth living for.