Quantum Leaps: How Maths Drives Scientific Progress

by Hugh Barker

How does Google know what you want to type? How did humans first reach the moon? Could we ever have a supercomputer the size of a pinhead? In this thrilling numerical journey, Hugh Barker explores how mathematics has helped to build the technology of today, and the fascinating ways it is shaping the future. From green energy to 3-D printing and from quantum cryptography to machine learning, High Tech Maths reveals the hidden mathematics in modern technology. Beautifully written and full of ingenious examples, this book will make you realise how the modern world be impossible without our formidable mathematical armoury.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

240 pages, Hardcover

Published July 4, 2024

Reviews

[Jeroen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually enjoy reading Maths books. I like to see what else Maths is used for, beyond what I know and beyond my own work. It is interesting to see how maths can be used across fields and that sometimes leads me to wonder as well on other techniques that I could try for my work. More importantly I like to see how someone else communicates these ideas, as that as well is an important part of my work. But most of it, I just find it fun and relaxing to read about maths (especially if it is not a text book full of formulas only). I started this book during a period that I was busy at work, and thinking that these topics would be interesting enough for me to read a bit and get my mind of work.
Unfortunately I did not enjoy the book at all. Although a text in the back of the book states that Hugh Barker is an author and editor, this book is in desperate need of both or at the very least an editor and proof reader. It is still interesting to see how maths is applied across different fields, and how new technology and progress in general is driven by maths. But the book is largely just a collection of maths topics that are somewhat related within the chapter. Basically the author crammed as much maths topics and facts in as he could, with some info being unnecessary and a distraction and without a clear link between topics. In some cases though the author could have linked the topics better, in others I don't see the link. In an early chapter, a problem is mentioned without it being clarified and then in the next sections references are made to how the new bits of maths relate to the problem. This was very tiring and annoying as the problem is not explained and therefore the connection is largely based on the authors word.
I also did not appreciate the climate change chapter being called blah, blah, blah. I understand that this is a reference to the Greta Thunberg quote mentioned in the chapter but it's a bit thin and it makes it seem like the author does not care for the topic (which does not appear the case from the writing)
The book also contains some mistakes, at least three that I spotted.
- a graph showing the logic 'OR' function is explained by referencing 'the line in the graph', when it has two lines. Presumably this is the 'XOR' function not the 'OR function'
- Bayes' formula re-uses the P(A|B) that is being estimated in the numerator of the formula, which should have been P(A).
- for compressing code an example is given, where the notation denotes (x,y) with x being the starting location of a text and y being the length. For the last line of the encoded text the book says (41,73) but using a length of 73 does not make sense. In this case the 73 is the end of the line being referenced, so the encoding has to be (41,33).

So would not recommend this book. It is not clear and simple enough for people with little or no understanding of maths, and there is not enough depth for anyone that is interested to understand more. At best it wets the appetite for further research.

[PRJ Greenwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discursive but intriguing book. By discursive I mean that is truly is a wandering work, changing from subject to subject, sometimes after a single paragraph. I found it an engaging work though despite these frequent shifts. If you're not into maths in any deep way, it's also bound to do your head in.

[Jessica Vella · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read with the right level of detail (and the right level of not-detail sometimes) and needed. Covered a broad range of topics neatly. It got a little bit lofty and a fraction repetitive at times, but overall worth a read!

[Evie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this! Simultaneously loads of detail and limited at times, but it covered a lot of ground and painted a very beautiful picture of maths.