This sampler of entertaining mathematical diversions reveals the elegance and extraordinary usefulness of mathematics for readers who think they have no aptitude for the subject. If you like any kind of game at all, you’ll enjoy the amazing mathematical puzzles and patterns presented here in straightforward terms that any layperson can understand. From magic squares and the mysterious qualities of prime numbers to Pythagorean triples, probability theory, the Fibonacci sequence, and more, the author shows that math can be fun while having some profound implications.
Such ubiquitous mathematical entities as pi and the Fibonacci numbers are found throughout the natural world and are also the foundation of our technological civilization. By exploring the intriguing games presented here, you’ll come away with a greater appreciation for the beauty and importance of these and many more math concepts.
This is the perfect book for people who were turned off by math in school but now as adults wonder what they may have missed.
Owen O’Shea is the author (with Underwood Dudley) of The Magic Numbers of the Professor and fifteen articles in the Journal of Recreational Mathematics. He is employed by the Irish Government’s Department of Defence.
“Owen O’Shea’s The Call of the Primes provides a marvelous romp through the world of mathematics, with topics including prime numbers, the Fibonacci sequence, transcendental numbers, Pascal’s triangle, and so much more. With gems and patterns sure to delight and educate, the book stimulates the imagination of a very diverse audience.”
—Clifford A. Pickover, author of The Math Book
