The Calculus Diaries
How Math Can Help You Lose Weight, Win in Vegas, and Survive a Zombie Apocalypse
Jennifer Ouellette 2010 Beaverton Lib 515 OUE
I only read 28 pages. Words explaining some aspects of math ... not much math.
Ouellette is a BA English major, married to physicist Sean M. Carroll. I expect good things from her, and other good things from their collaboration, but this book isn't the specific good thing I need right now. I will keep it in mind when I need to help a young person deal with an assigned math class.
p5 Integral (measuring accumulation) and Differential (measuring change) explained to daughter Allyson, who responded "That's it? Why can't math teachers just say that?"
Answer: Because math teachers focus on numbers, not on individual needs. Math can help people think more rationally, but a math teacher must first understand how an individual student in front of them reasons NOW, and how the student can reason a wee bit better and solve one more personal/life problem when they walk out of that class.
p19 Zero by Charles Seife
- "The Roman era lasted for about seven centuries. In all that time, there were no significant mathematical developments."
p261 Numb3rs television show featuring college prof Charlie Epps who helps LA detective brother Don Epps solve crimes. Many word problems and calculus-language solutions, lots of stories about mathematician personalities. Einstein in Las Vegas: "Little Al from Princeton - controls a lot of the action around Jersey"