This collection of "excursions" into modern mathematics consists of four independant learning social choice; management science; growth and symmetry; and statistics. Coverage centres around an assortment of real-world examples and applications, with the aim of demonstrating the beauty and relevance of mathemtics. An Instructor's manual to accompany the text is available (0-13-311176-8).
A surprisingly engaging and readable overview of some concepts in contemporary mathematics!
Don’t believe me? How about proving there is no voting system which follows all the rules of fairness? How about creating CGI mountains using nothing but triangles? How about finding the best way to equally divide a pizza?
I’ll admit I didn’t bother to sit down and work through the exercises, but that’s the advantage of reading a textbook for fun. If you’re somebody who has even a passing interest in how numbers affect the everyday world, this is a good place to start.