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Math Girls #2
数学ガール／フェルマーの最終定理
"What's the big deal about Fermat's last theorem?" Yuri asked. "It's famous," I said. "So simple anyone can understand it, but it took centuries for mathematicians to prove it's true." * * * With a note scribbled in the margin of a book in the 1600s, Fermat set in motion centuries of effort spent unraveling this enigma. It would require 358 years and the development of entirely new fields of mathematics to provide a definitive solution to what is now recognized as one of the greatest mathematical problems of all time. In this second book in the Math Girls series, you'll join Miruka, Tetra, and new "math girl" Yuri in explorations of number theory, abstract algebra, modular arithmetic, methods of proof, and other intriguing mathematical topics, leading up to a whirlwind tour of the modern proof of Fermat's last theorem. Math Girls 2: Fermat's Last Theorem has something for anyone interested in mathematics, from advanced high school students to college math majors and educators. Praise for Math Girls! ..".the type of book that might inspire teens to realize how much interesting mathematics there is in the world-not just the material that is forced upon them for some standardized test." "Recommended" -CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries "Imagine the improbable: high-school students getting together on their own - not in a Math Club or Math Circle, not in preparation for any Math Olympiad or "regular" test, not on the advice of any of their teachers, not as part of any organized program - to talk about pure math, math more interesting than the math found in their textbooks. The three students in this book do that for the sheer love of it. That to me is the beauty and fascination of this novel for young people, mostly young people interested in math." -Marion Cohen, Arcadia University, MAA Reviews "Sometimes the math goes over your head-or at least my head. But that hardly matters. The focus here is the joy of learning, which the book conveys with aplomb." -Daniel Pink, NYT and WSJ best-selling author of Drive and A Whole New Mind "if you have a...teenager who's really into math, this is a really interesting choice" -Carol Zall, Public Radio International, The World "Math Girls provides a fun and engaging way to learn and review mathematical concepts...the characters' joy as they explore and discover new and old ideas is infectious." -review, "Experiments in Manga" blog
355 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2008
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210 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 3, 2015
Another stellar book that I absolutely loved. The maths in the beginning of this one is actually a bit easier than in Math Girls, although the last chapter, about Fermat's Last Theorem, is a bear. Still, it manages to demonstrate the really cool connections between apparently disparate branches of mathematics.
On the "light novel" side of the equation, there's a little bit of an advancement in the plotline of the friendship of the characters, but not much. Still, I love the characters just because they're so passionate about *something*, and it's cool that it's for mathematics.
At the end of the book I discovered, to my delight, that there are three more novels in this series so far. I can't wait for them to be translated into English so I can read them!
On the "light novel" side of the equation, there's a little bit of an advancement in the plotline of the friendship of the characters, but not much. Still, I love the characters just because they're so passionate about *something*, and it's cool that it's for mathematics.
At the end of the book I discovered, to my delight, that there are three more novels in this series so far. I can't wait for them to be translated into English so I can read them!
December 9, 2015
The continuation of the previous:Pythagorean triples,abelian groups ,modular arithmetic and the last Fermat theorem all at a level understable in secondary school
May 9, 2020
“Learning is not fun if you don’t test your limits”
This second book was excellent for me. It has more about abstract algebra, complex numbers and number theory.
Although I learned the concepts of the topics treated here, I was really impressed by the way our main characters developed them.
At the beginning I was afraid of the abstract algebra because it’s my weak point, but in the end I was really pleased because I could understand every concept.
I’m happy because I’ve learned more things about the relationship between some fields of Mathematics and I know that I’m going to share my knowing with my classmates and friends.
Talking about the “love story”, I think this book has less romance than the first book, but I could see the great friendship involved between Miruka, Tetra, Yuki and the narrator.
I enjoyed to follow their story and also the nerdy parts of the plot.
This second book was excellent for me. It has more about abstract algebra, complex numbers and number theory.
Although I learned the concepts of the topics treated here, I was really impressed by the way our main characters developed them.
At the beginning I was afraid of the abstract algebra because it’s my weak point, but in the end I was really pleased because I could understand every concept.
I’m happy because I’ve learned more things about the relationship between some fields of Mathematics and I know that I’m going to share my knowing with my classmates and friends.
Talking about the “love story”, I think this book has less romance than the first book, but I could see the great friendship involved between Miruka, Tetra, Yuki and the narrator.
I enjoyed to follow their story and also the nerdy parts of the plot.
May 15, 2021
Again, Hiroshi Yuki shows the beauty of math through numbers, pattern, sequence, and geometry. While most of us expect math to calculate, to make decision, to solve mysteries, Yuki san reminded us that math can be relaxing recreation for none purposes.
I enjoy it so much reading the pythagorean triplets part, because it digs more eye-opening solutions that never taught at junior high school. I also find it interesting how this book show how to search GCD that is so different from the way many Indonesian teachers taught. The further I read, i realized how math can be perceived differently from other country view.
I never grow tired reading Math Girls. Can’t stop, won’t stop. Can’t wait to have the third and the fourth books.
I enjoy it so much reading the pythagorean triplets part, because it digs more eye-opening solutions that never taught at junior high school. I also find it interesting how this book show how to search GCD that is so different from the way many Indonesian teachers taught. The further I read, i realized how math can be perceived differently from other country view.
I never grow tired reading Math Girls. Can’t stop, won’t stop. Can’t wait to have the third and the fourth books.
February 8, 2023
another great book for this series. This book could be used to teach students how to think about Math, and how to talk about Math. It would be interesting to replace 8th grade Math with a series of book studies and look for an improvement when students get to 9th grade
August 10, 2020
Hyvin samaa luokkaa ekan kirjan kanssa, mutta matematiikka muodosti vielä paremmin rokkaavan kokonaisuuden. Juonikin oli ehkä millin parempi.
February 13, 2022
300年間解かれていない問題があるーーー
パンチの聞いた文言に最初はハチャメチャに興奮した。フェルマーの最終定理は中学生の自分でもわかるような簡単な内容。それでいて当時の代数学、幾何学の粋の粋を集めた解法には心躍ったものだ。あの時に感じた興奮、胸の高鳴り、全能感。。。大事にしていきたい。
パンチの聞いた文言に最初はハチャメチャに興奮した。フェルマーの最終定理は中学生の自分でもわかるような簡単な内容。それでいて当時の代数学、幾何学の粋の粋を集めた解法には心躍ったものだ。あの時に感じた興奮、胸の高鳴り、全能感。。。大事にしていきたい。
December 29, 2025
soo cute, i might reread this later.
August 9, 2015
An excellent math book. It had me reading non-stop (virtually) for 2 days. The contents is heavy on number theory and group theory, more specific than the previous book in the series. There's the structure of the proof to Fermat's last theorem in the last chapter, but it does not really go into the depth of the proof. Plenty of room for silly high school romcom. Also plenty of real, honest advice about doing and learning math.
If I were to teach a Core Scientific Perspective at Colgate, I'd use this for readings.
If I were to teach a Core Scientific Perspective at Colgate, I'd use this for readings.
February 12, 2017
I didn't think it was as good as Math Girls I until the last chapter. It was still quite good, but too elementary. The last chapter was very interesting, but sadly, I don't know that it was enough to redeem the book for me.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews