Waubonsee Community College

The big bang of numbers, how to build the universe using only math, Manil Suri

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages [338]-354) and index

illustrationsmaps

index present

non fiction

The big bang of numbers

bibliography

1294283051

Manil Suri

how to build the universe using only math

"An engaging and imaginative tour through the fundamental mathematical concepts-from arithmetic to infinity-that form the building blocks of our universe. Our universe has multiple origin stories, from religious creation myths to the Big Bang of scientists. But if we leave those behind and start from nothing-no matter, no cosmos, not even empty space-could we create a universe using only math? Irreverent, richly illustrated, and boundlessly creative, The Big Bang of Numbers invites us to try. In this new mathematical origin story, mathematician and novelist Manil Suri creates a natural progression of ideas needed to design our world, starting with numbers and continuing through geometry, algebra, and beyond. He reveals the secret lives of real and imaginary numbers, teaches them to play abstract games with real-world applications, discovers unexpected patterns that connect humble lifeforms to enormous galaxies, and explores mathematical underpinnings for randomness and beauty. With evocative examples ranging from multidimensional crochet to the Mona Lisa's asymmetrical smile, as well as ingenious storytelling that helps illuminate complex concepts like infinity and relativity, The Big Bang of Numbers charts a playful, inventive course to existence. Mathematics, Suri shows, might best be understood not as something we invent to explain Nature, but as the source of all creation, whose directives Nature tries to obey as best she can. Offering both striking new perspectives for math aficionados and an accessible introduction for anyone daunted by calculation, The Big Bang of Numbers proves that we can all fall in love with math"--, Provided by publisher

Introduction: The Pope made me write this book -- Day 1: Arithmetic. Setting up the big bang -- Games numbers play -- More games -- Searching for their roots -- An irrational universe -- Journey into the imaginary -- Day 2: Geometry. The universe needs its space -- Settling the complexes -- Fun and games on the plane -- Two questions about the plane -- Space or bust -- An alternative geometry -- Crocheting your universe -- The fourth and higher dimensions -- Day 3: Algebra. Outsourcing -- The joy of x -- The world of polynomials -- The y of things -- The algebra of distance -- Day 4: Patterns. Patterns and perfection -- Nature's soft spot -- The golden ratio -- Nature's relation to math -- Math and beauty -- Fractals -- The why and how of nature's patterns -- Day 5: Physics. A universe run by laws -- Time and space -- The curvature of spacetime -- Day 6: Infinity. A finite universe of numbers -- Close encounters of the infinite kind -- The matching game -- Battle of the cardinalities -- A smile on Georg's face -- The end of mathematics -- Day 7: Emergence. Setting nature free