Tag Archives: maths

Is That a Big Number? By Andrew C. A. Elliott

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is that a big number, maths,

This is a fun and riveting book. Written in an accessible and engaging way, it is unputdownable.

Impressive statistics are thrown at us every day – the cost of health care; the size of an earthquake; the distance to the nearest star; the number of giraffes in the world.

We know all these numbers are important – some more than others – and it’s vaguely unsettling when we don’t really have a clear sense of how remarkable or how ordinary they are. How do we work out what these figures actually mean? Are they significant, should we be worried, or excited, or impressed? How big is big, how small is small?

With this entertaining and engaging book, help is at hand. Andrew Elliott gives us the tips and tools to make sense of numbers, to get a sense of proportion, to decipher what matters. It is a celebration of a numerate way of understanding the world. It shows how number skills help us to understand the everyday world close at hand, and how the same skills can be stretched to demystify the bigger numbers that we find in the wider contexts of science, politics, and the universe.

Entertaining, full of practical examples, and memorable concepts, Is That A Big Number? renews our relationship with figures. If numbers are the musical notes with which the symphony of the universe is written, and you’re struggling to hear the tune, then this is the book to get you humming again.

Is That a Big Number? By Andrew C. A. Elliott is available here.

Applied Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction By Alain Goriely

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applied mathematicsFrost highly recommends The Very Short Introductions series. This one is Applied Mathematics. It tells you all you need to know about applied mathematics and its place in the world. Easy to read and engaging. This great book could be read in one sitting; making you an instant expert.

Mathematics is playing an increasing important role in society and the sciences, enhancing our ability to use models and handle data. While pure mathematics is mostly interested in abstract structures, applied mathematics sits at the interface between this abstract world and the world in which we live. This area of mathematics takes its nourishment from society and science and, in turn, provides a unified way to understand problems arising in diverse fields.

This Very Short Introduction presents a compact yet comprehensive view of the field of applied mathematics, and explores its relationships with (pure) mathematics, science, and engineering. Explaining the nature of applied mathematics, Alain Goriely discusses its early achievements in physics and engineering, and its development as a separate field after World War II. Using historical examples, current applications, and challenges, Goriely illustrates the particular role that mathematics plays in the modern sciences today and its far-reaching potential.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Applied Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction By Alain Goriely is available here.

Euler’s Pioneering Equation: The most beautiful theorem in mathematics

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In 1988 The Mathematical Intelligencer, a quarterly mathematics journal, carried out a poll to find the most beautiful theorem in mathematics. Twenty-four theorems were listed and readers were invited to award each a ‘score for beauty’. While there were many worthy competitors, the winner was ‘Euler’s equation’. In 2004 Physics World carried out a similar poll of ‘greatest equations’, and found that among physicists Euler’s mathematical result came second only to Maxwell’s equations. The Stanford mathematician Keith Devlin reflected the feelings of many in describing it as “like a Shakespearian sonnet that captures the very essence of love, or a painting which brings out the beauty of the human form that is far more than just skin deep, Euler’s equation reaches down into the very depths of existence”.

What is it that makes Euler’s identity, e]iPi + 1 = 0, so special?

In Euler’s Pioneering Equation Robin Wilson shows how this simple, elegant, and profound formula links together perhaps the five most important numbers in mathematics, each associated with a story in themselves: the number 1, the basis of our counting system; the concept of zero, which was a major development in mathematics, and opened up the idea of negative numbers; π an irrational number, the basis for the measurement of circles; the exponential e, associated with exponential growth and logarithms; and the imaginary number i, the square root of -1, the basis of complex numbers. Following a chapter on each of the elements, Robin Wilson discusses how the startling relationship between them was established, including the several near misses to the discovery of the formula.

A beautiful book which is a love letter to Euler’s Pioneering Equation. The book is not for beginners but if you have a love of maths this is a well-written and imaginative book. 

Euler’s Pioneering Equation: The most beautiful theorem in mathematics is available here.

 

The Wealthy Women: A Man Is Not a Financial Plan. Mary Waring Interview

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The Wealthy Woman: A Man is Not a Financial Plan: A Woman's Guide to Achieving Financial SecurityWe interviewed The Wealthy Women: A Man Is Not a Financial Plan author Mary Waring. She had some great advice to give and has also written a great book that every women should read. In the meantime, pick up some tips in our interview with her.

 

What made you write the book?

I’ve come across so many very bright women who have an issue with maths and finance. My theory is that the way it is taught in schools is much more suited to a typical male brain rather than a female brain. (I obviously don’t have a typical female brain!)

So many bright women have a mental block about maths and dealing with their finances. I decided therefore I’m would write a very down to earth, no jargon guide to looking after your finances and improving your wealth.

Are women worse than men when it comes to finance?

As above, I think women tend to put it very far down the list of priorities. They look after the house, their partner, the children etc but very far down the list is looking after themselves. In addition only about 10% of advisers are female. The typical adviser is male, middle aged, grey hair, grey suit. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that but many women are looking for someone different and may be struggling to find a female adviser.

Do too many women still rely financially on men?

I think a lot do. The female often looks after the house and the children and all the general housekeeping issues. The male often looks after the finances. In any relationship it’s sensible for one person to look after the finances, and in my experience that is often the male. The woman does not play an active role in the finances and if worst thing happens and they get divorced the female is totally at a loss as to how to look after herself financially. A number of women also assume their husband’s pension will cover both of them in retirement. But this may not be the case.

What are women’s financial strengths and weaknesses?

Strengths- very good at following a set procedure once it’s explained to them. They’re not as competitive as men as a rule so do not need to “beat the market” with their investment return. They’re looking for a steady investment growth. They’re happy to take advice and happy to admit if there’s something they don’t understand.

Weaknesses- lack of confidence regarding finances and tendency to stick their head in the sand rather than deal with it.

What can women do to help themselves financially?

If their partner deals with the finances make sure they sit down on a regular basis and discuss the finances: how much money comes in each month, how much gets spent and what on. Discuss what savings, investments and pensions exist.

If they deal with the finances themselves, then start to look at what they are spending against what income is coming in. They must start to plan for the future and consider what income they will need/want in retirement.

What pitfalls should they look about for?

If something goes wrong (e.g. a large unexpected bill) don’t give up and think the plan isn’t working. Keep at it.

What is the best way to save?

The best way to save is to have a regular amount come out of your account each month by standing order or direct debit. Have that money come out of your account before you start spending. Frequently people wait until the end of the month and decide to save what’s left in their account. But all too often there’s nothing left. If the saving happens before spending it often won’t be noticed that there is less to spend.


Best way to get out of debt?

The best way to get out of debt is to do a strict budget so that you can pay off as much as possible of the debt as quickly as possible. Interest on debt increases at a huge amount so make an effort to get the debt paid down by always paying more than the minimum.

Best way to get wealthy?

The best way to get wealthy is to make that your priority and then each day take some small steps towards achieving that. Too often this looks like too big a challenge but it’s the small steps on a regular basis that can really help your wealth. Choosing to eat out at a much cheaper spot than you would normally use will not make any difference to your wealth if you do it just once. But if you do this on a regular basis so you can save more, then over time it will make a difference.

Top financial tip?

For a period of 3 months keep a very detailed record of what you are spending, including everything that you pay for in cash. Carry a notebook around in your handbag so you can note it down straight away. Look at this in detail and ask yourself “How can I reduce this cost?”. You’d be surprised how much we all overspend without being aware of it. Until you know what you’re spending your money on you are not in a position to do anything about it.

Thank you Mary.

The Wealthy Woman is available from Amazon and is reviewed here.