The Great Mathematical Problems: Marvels and Mysteries of Mathematics

Review Stewart's imaginative, often-witty anecdotes, analogies and diagrams succeed in illuminating ... some very difficult ideas. It will enchant math enthusiasts as well as general readers who pay close attention ― Kirkus ReviewsBritain's most brilliant and prolific populariser of mathematics -- Alex Bellos ― GuardianPraise for previous books:'This is not pure maths. It is maths contaminated with wit, wisdom, and wonder. Ian really is unsurpassed as raconteur of the world of numbers. He guides us on a mind-boggling journey from the ultra trivial to the profound. Thoroughly entertaining ― New ScientistStewart has served up the instructive equivalent of a Michelin-starred tasting menu, or perhaps a smorgasbord of appetisers. And of course, appetisers are designed to give you an appetite for more ― Guardian Product Description There are some mathematical problems whose significance goes beyond the ordinary - like Fermat's Last Theorem or Goldbach's Conjecture - they are the enigmas which define mathematics.The Great Mathematical Problems explains why these problems exist, why they matter, what drives mathematicians to incredible lengths to solve them and where they stand in the context of mathematics and science as a whole. It contains solved problems - like the Poincaré Conjecture, cracked by the eccentric genius Grigori Perelman, who refused academic honours and a million-dollar prize for his work, and ones which, like the Riemann Hypothesis, remain baffling after centuries.Stewart is the guide to this mysterious and exciting world, showing how modern mathematicians constantly rise to the challenges set by their predecessors, as the great mathematical problems of the past succumb to the new techniques and ideas of the present. Book Description 'Britain's foremost populariser of maths' Ian Stewart reveals the ultimate questions that take us to the limits of mathematics - now available in paperback. About the Author Ian Stewart is Professor Emeritus of Mathematics atthe University of Warwick and the author of the bestseller Professor Stewart's Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities.His recent books include Do Dice Play God?, Significant Figures, Professor Stewart's Incredible Numbers, Seventeen Equations that Changed the World, Professor Stewart's Casebook of Mathematical Mysteries and Calculating the Cosmos.He is a Fellow of the Royal Society.