The Secret Life of Equations: The 50 Greatest Equations and How They Work

Description

Behind every important scientific discovery there is an equation. They are far from baffling, and now you too can understand their power and beauty! Discover the 50 equations that have led to incredible discoveries, ground-breaking technology and have shaped our understanding of the world. From much heralded classics as e=mc2 and Pythagoras’s Theorem, to Fuzzy Logic and Google PageRank, each equation is tackled head-on, broken down and explained in a unique, entertaining way so that you understand exactly how it works and why it’s worth knowing about. Innovative illustrations and accessible text help you understand each equation’s function, individual elements and development. Along the way you’ll discover some surprising stories about the people behind the discoveries and how their brilliant insights resulted in ideas and technology we now take for granted. Covering geometry, technology, science, chance and mathematical theory, The Secret Life of Equations will enlighten and entertain in equal measure. Chapters include:Geometry and NumberTrigonometry; Fibonacci Numbers; The Fundamental Theorem of CalculusScienceNewton’s Second Law; Universal Gravitation; EntropyTechnologyThe Cross-Ratio; De Morgan’s Laws; Quaternion RotationChance and UncertaintyThe Exponential Distribution; The Normal Distribution; The Chi-Square Test