Math
in both elementary and high school was a little bit challenging, fun and
somehow easy. When I entered college I thought it will all still be the same,
what I thought was wrong. Mathematics in college was ten times more
challenging, boring and was never will be easy. So I wondered how do
mathematicians look at math that exciting and fun? In the book of Professor Ian
Stewart; "Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities" he discussed where the
real fun is. Through the years Professor Stewart has been filling his cabinet
with mathematical games, puzzles, stories, and facts. Written in his book are
the different answers to different questions that each person might have about
how mathematics work. The author had discussed different logic behind games,
puzzles by using the science of mathematics in a fun and entertaining way.
The
author created an atmosphere where he as the author can interact with his
readers through asking them to solve and perform puzzles and problems. I like
the connection he makes with his readers however, since I am not a fan of mathematics
I eventually got tired solving his problems and instead I skipped some of it.
The book was not arranged in a chronological order, each chapter is not
directly connected from the previous one which makes it less boring because
each chapter opens a new topic.
In
the book my most favorite part was on the chapter of Curious Calculations. During
elementary and high school I find it fun calculating lengthy mathematical
problems but when Professor Stewart showed an easy and even more fun way to
solve problems I realized how different mathematical problems in college could
also be solved that way. It's like solving puzzles and the answer itself is the
prize.
His
book was indeed a cabinet of mathematical curiosity. I myself was not that curious
about mathematics but when I read his book I realized that my mind has a
cabinet of curiosity that was yet to be filled with answers.
No comments:
Post a Comment