Is Maths Real: How Simple Questions Lead Us to Mathematics Deepest Truths

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A New Scientist Best Book of 2023

Why is -(-1) = 1
Why do odd and even numbers alternate
What's the point of algebra

Is maths even real

From imaginary numbers to the perplexing order of operations we all had drilled into us, Eugenia Cheng - mathematician, writer and woman on a mission to rid the world of maths phobia - brings us maths as we've never seen it before, revealing how profound insights can emerge from seemingly unlikely sources.

Written with intelligence and passion, Is Maths Real is a celebration of the true, curious spirit of the discipline.

Reviews

'A generous tour of mathematics for anyone whose instincts tend less towards "Just tell me the answer" and more towards "Wait, but why"' - Jordan Ellenberg, author

'A brilliant rebuttal to those who see math as only about right answers, rather than about creative discovery. [Cheng] masterfully uncovers what's simply profound in the profoundly simple' - Francis Su, author

'Intriguing ... Celebrates the dizziness and disorientation engendered by childlike questions that hint at the deep mysteries beneath' - Anil Ananthaswamy

'Discover what it feels like to be a real mathematician ... This is a human pursuit, depicted here from the inside' - Simon Ings

'An entertaining foray into the more philosophical realms of mathematics ... for the budding mathematician in the house, to say nothing of lovers of puzzles and enigmas' - Kirkus

Author Bio

Eugenia Cheng is Scientist in Residence at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Honorary Visiting Fellow of Pure Mathematics at City, University of London. A Cambridge graduate, she previously taught at the Universities of Cambridge, Chicago and Nice. She is also a concert pianist, fluent in French, and the author of several Profile bestsellers, including How to Bake Pi and x + y.