‘Is Math Real?’ by Eugenia Cheng
While watching “A Beautiful Mind,” I wondered if all those equations on the blackboard could possibly be real. Yes and no. “Yes” because a consultant kept the film’s math on track and “no” because the plot plunged viewers into one of John Nash’s delusions at the beginning of the film.
And yet, is math real in “real life”?
An NPR story states that “From start to finish, Eugenia’s book explores the ways we do math outside the classroom — and how they upend the binary true/false we’re taught from an early age. From examples where 1+1 does not equal two, to the concept of infinity, Is Math Real? relieves us of that rigidity and encourages us to reevaluate our relationship to the abstract. She reminds us that math is driven by human curiosity and creativity—not by right and wrong answers.”
I also thought that the chalkboard filled with equations in films proved the math was fake. If the math were real, wouldn’t the mathematicisn use a computer? Not so, it turns out. First, that’s tradidional, and second, it make theorms easier to present to a class.
From the Publisher“One of the world’s most creative mathematicians offers a new way to look at math—focusing on questions, not answers
“Where do we learn math: From rules in a textbook? From logic and deduction? Not really, according to mathematician Eugenia Cheng: we learn it from human curiosity—most importantly, from asking questions. This may come as a surprise to those who think that math is about finding the one right answer, or those who were told that the ‘dumb’ question they asked just proved they were bad at math. But Cheng shows why people who ask questions like “Why does 1 + 1 = 2?” are at the very heart of the search for mathematical truth.
“Is Math Real? is a much-needed repudiation of the rigid ways we’re taught to do math, and a celebration of the true, curious spirit of the discipline. Written with intelligence and passion, Is Math Real? brings us math as we’ve never seen it before, revealing how profound insights can emerge from seemingly unlikely sources. ”
From the Reviewers“An invigorating philosophical take on the field…Cheng has a talent for making mathematical discussions accessible, and her wide-ranging analysis leads to some surprisingly weighty conclusions…It adds up to a stellar meditation on the nature of knowledge and math.”―Publishers Weekly (Starred)
“[Cheng] also succeeds in making the reader feel that not understanding something in mathematics isn’t the same as being bad at it: rather, it is a clue that you are onto something deeper, the pursuit of which could reap rewards. The book is infused with personal ruminations that lighten the load and keep the tone conversational…Cheng wears her heart and politics on her sleeve, segueing seamlessly…from mathematics to social concerns…Nicely parried, while providing fodder for those who want to chew on this some more.”―New Scientist
You don’t need a chalkboard to understand this book.
–Malcolm
