Mathematics and the Unexpected - Softcover

Ekeland, Ivar

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0226199908 ISBN 13: 9780226199900

Publisher: University of Chicago Press, 1990

Synopsis

"Not the least unexpected thing about Mathematics and the Unexpected is that a real mathematician should write not just a literate work, but a literary one."—Ian Stewart, New Scientist

"In this brief, elegant treatise, assessable to anyone who likes to think, Ivar Ekelund explains some philosophical implications of recent mathematics. He examines randomness, the geometry involved in making predictions, and why general trends are easy to project (it will snow in January) but particulars are practically impossible (it will snow from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the 21st)."—Village Voice

About this title

Synopsis:

In this brief treatise, Ekelund explains some philosophical implications of recent mathematics. He examines randomness, the geometry involved in making predictions, and why general trends are easy to project, but particulars are practically impossible.

About the Author:

Ivar Ekeland is president of Universite Paris Dauphine and founder of the Centre de Recherche de mathematiques de la decision. He is the author of several books on mathematics."

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0226199908
• ISBN 13: 9780226199900
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160