The Mathematics of Life
Home > Mathematics and Science Textbooks > Mathematics > History of mathematics > The Mathematics of Life
The Mathematics of Life

The Mathematics of Life


     0     
5
4
3
2
1



International Edition


X
About the Book

Biologists have long dismissed mathematics as being unable to meaningfully contribute to our understanding of living beings. Within the past ten years, however, mathematicians have proven that they hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of our world--and ourselves. In The Mathematics of Life, Ian Stewart provides a fascinating overview of the vital but little-recognized role mathematics has played in pulling back the curtain on the hidden complexities of the natural world--and how its contribution will be even more vital in the years ahead. In his characteristically clear and entertaining fashion, Stewart explains how mathematicians and biologists have come to work together on some of the most difficult scientific problems that the human race has ever tackled, including the nature and origin of life itself.

Table of Contents:
1. Mathematics and Biology 2. Creatures Small and Smaller 3. Long List of Life 4. Florally Finding Fibonacci 5. The Origin of Species 6. In a Monastery Garden 7. The Molecule of Life 8. The Book of Life 9. Taxonomist, Taxonomist, Spare that Tree 10. Virus from the Fourth Dimension 11. Hidden Wiring 12. Knots and Folds 13. Spots and Stripes 14. Lizard Games 15. Networking Opportunities 16. The Paradox of the Plankton 17. What is Life? 18. Is Anybody Out There? 19. The Sixth Revolution

About the Author :
Ian Stewart is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics and active researcher at the University of Warwick. He is also a regular research visitor at the University of Houston, the Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications in Minneapolis, and the Santa Fe institute. His writing has appeared in New Scientist, Discover, Scientific American, and many newspapers in the U.K. and U.S.

Review :
Kirkus "An ingenious overview of biology with emphasis on mathematical ideas--stimulating." New Scientist "Stewart flexes his mathematical muscles when he explores concepts like symmetrical viruses and puzzle-solving slime moulds. As always, he explains complicated mathematical ideas brilliantly." The Guardian "A timely account of why biologists and mathematicians are hooking up at last... Stewart is Britain's most brilliant and prolific populariser of mathematics... Mathematics of Life is dense with information, written with Stewart's characteristic lightness of touch and will please the dedicated maths reader... [T]he book is a testament to the versatility of maths and how it is shaping our understanding of the world." Discover "It is difficult to find many biologists who enjoy math, or vice versa, but British number cruncher Ian Stewart successfully crosses over. Here he argues that solving some of the biggest scientific mysteries, including life's origins and prevalence in the universe, hinges on a union of these fields. He skillfully recasts the history of biology within a mathematical context...then applies his left-brained perspective to the hot new field of astrobiology. Bio majors: Try the book, then bite the bullet and enroll in Math 101." Booklist "Though a complete understanding of how mathematics pries secrets out of nature requires long and rigorous study, Stewart conveys to general readers the fundamental axioms with lucidly accessible writing, supplemented with helpful charts and illustrations... A rewarding adventure for the armchair scientist." Keith Devlin, Wall Street Journal "The Mathematics of Life is at its best in discussing the role that the discipline has played in our understanding of viruses... Mr. Stewart's discussion of the intersection of viruses and geometry, and other topics, is absorbing." Boston Globe "Stewart revels in intellectual wanderlust, taking us from explanations of why Fibonnaci's sequence shows up so often in nature to rather in-depth treatments of evolutionary theory to number-crunching the possibilities of life on other planets... Stewart is great at communicating wonder, but it's often his skepticism that makes The Mathematics of Life such an enjoyable read--you get the sense that as a man who fully grasps numbers, he doesn't take kindly to how frequently they are abused in mainstream treatments of science." Science News "In this engaging overview, a mathematician describes how the field of biomathematics is answering key questions about the natural world and the origins of life."


Best Sellers


Product Details
  • ISBN-13: 9780465032402
  • Publisher: Basic Books
  • Publisher Imprint: Basic Books
  • Height: 229 mm
  • Returnable: Y
  • Spine Width: 23 mm
  • Width: 152 mm
  • ISBN-10: 0465032400
  • Publisher Date: 08 Jan 2013
  • Binding: Paperback
  • Language: English
  • Returnable: Y
  • Weight: 428 gr


Similar Products

Add Photo
Add Photo

Customer Reviews

REVIEWS      0     
Click Here To Be The First to Review this Product
The Mathematics of Life
Basic Books -
The Mathematics of Life
Writing guidlines
We want to publish your review, so please:
  • keep your review on the product. Review's that defame author's character will be rejected.
  • Keep your review focused on the product.
  • Avoid writing about customer service. contact us instead if you have issue requiring immediate attention.
  • Refrain from mentioning competitors or the specific price you paid for the product.
  • Do not include any personally identifiable information, such as full names.

The Mathematics of Life

Required fields are marked with *

Review Title*
Review
    Add Photo Add up to 6 photos
    Would you recommend this product to a friend?
    Tag this Book Read more
    Does your review contain spoilers?
    What type of reader best describes you?
    I agree to the terms & conditions
    You may receive emails regarding this submission. Any emails will include the ability to opt-out of future communications.

    CUSTOMER RATINGS AND REVIEWS AND QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TERMS OF USE

    These Terms of Use govern your conduct associated with the Customer Ratings and Reviews and/or Questions and Answers service offered by Bookswagon (the "CRR Service").


    By submitting any content to Bookswagon, you guarantee that:
    • You are the sole author and owner of the intellectual property rights in the content;
    • All "moral rights" that you may have in such content have been voluntarily waived by you;
    • All content that you post is accurate;
    • You are at least 13 years old;
    • Use of the content you supply does not violate these Terms of Use and will not cause injury to any person or entity.
    You further agree that you may not submit any content:
    • That is known by you to be false, inaccurate or misleading;
    • That infringes any third party's copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret or other proprietary rights or rights of publicity or privacy;
    • That violates any law, statute, ordinance or regulation (including, but not limited to, those governing, consumer protection, unfair competition, anti-discrimination or false advertising);
    • That is, or may reasonably be considered to be, defamatory, libelous, hateful, racially or religiously biased or offensive, unlawfully threatening or unlawfully harassing to any individual, partnership or corporation;
    • For which you were compensated or granted any consideration by any unapproved third party;
    • That includes any information that references other websites, addresses, email addresses, contact information or phone numbers;
    • That contains any computer viruses, worms or other potentially damaging computer programs or files.
    You agree to indemnify and hold Bookswagon (and its officers, directors, agents, subsidiaries, joint ventures, employees and third-party service providers, including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc.), harmless from all claims, demands, and damages (actual and consequential) of every kind and nature, known and unknown including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of a breach of your representations and warranties set forth above, or your violation of any law or the rights of a third party.


    For any content that you submit, you grant Bookswagon a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, transferable right and license to use, copy, modify, delete in its entirety, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from and/or sell, transfer, and/or distribute such content and/or incorporate such content into any form, medium or technology throughout the world without compensation to you. Additionally,  Bookswagon may transfer or share any personal information that you submit with its third-party service providers, including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc. in accordance with  Privacy Policy


    All content that you submit may be used at Bookswagon's sole discretion. Bookswagon reserves the right to change, condense, withhold publication, remove or delete any content on Bookswagon's website that Bookswagon deems, in its sole discretion, to violate the content guidelines or any other provision of these Terms of Use.  Bookswagon does not guarantee that you will have any recourse through Bookswagon to edit or delete any content you have submitted. Ratings and written comments are generally posted within two to four business days. However, Bookswagon reserves the right to remove or to refuse to post any submission to the extent authorized by law. You acknowledge that you, not Bookswagon, are responsible for the contents of your submission. None of the content that you submit shall be subject to any obligation of confidence on the part of Bookswagon, its agents, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners or third party service providers (including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc.)and their respective directors, officers and employees.

    Accept

    Fresh on the Shelf


    Inspired by your browsing history


    Your review has been submitted!

    You've already reviewed this product!