The Big Questions: Mathematics

Maths demystified - the answers to twenty questions anyone might ask.

The Big Questions series is designed to let renowned experts address the 20 most fundamental and frequently asked questions of a major branch of science or philosophy. Each 3000-word essay simply and concisely examines a question that has eternally perplexed enquiring minds, and provides answers from history's great thinkers. This ambitious project is a unique distillation of humanity's best ideas. In Big Questions: Mathematics, Tony Crilly answers the 20 key questions: What is maths for? Where do numbers come from? Why are primes the atoms of maths? What are the strangest numbers? Are imaginary numbers real? How big is infinity? Where do parallel lines meet? What is the maths of the universe? Are statistics lies? Can maths guarantee riches? Is there a formula for everything? Why are three dimensions not enough? Can a butterfly's wings really cause a hurricane? Can we create an unbreakable code? Is maths beauty? Can maths predict the future? What shape is the universe? What is symmetry? Is maths true? Is there anything left to solve?

Introduction.
What is mathematics for? - An introduction to purposes and prospects.
Where do numbers come from? - From notches on bones to hexadecimals.
Why are primes the atoms of mathematics? - Building blocks and the fundamental theorem of arithmetic.
Which are the strangest numbers? - Real, irrational and transcendental numbers.
Are imaginary numbers truly imaginary? - From the imaginary 'I' to octonions.
How big is infinity? - Set theory and the infinity revolution.
Where do parallel lines meet? - The birth of new geometries.
What is the mathematics of the universe? - The Calculus miracle.
Are statistics lies? - Data, proof and 'damned lies'.
Can mathematics guarantee riches? - Uncertainty, chance and probability theory.
Is there a formula for everything? - Mathematical recipes and the search for knowledge.
Why are three dimensions not enough? - Higher dimensions, monster curves and fractals.
Can a butterfly's wings really cause a hurricane? - Chaos theory, weather equations and strange attractors.
Can we create an unbreakable code? - Ciphers, the Enigma machine and quantum computers.
Is mathematics beautiful? - Music, art, golden numbers and the Fibonacci sequence.
Can mathematics predict the future? - Mathematical models, simulations and game theory.
What shape is the universe? - Topology, manifolds and the Poincare conjecture.
What is symmetry? - Patterns, dualities and the fundamental nature of reality.
Is mathematics true? - From Plato's reality to Godel's incompleteness theorems.
Is there anything left to solve? - The great unsolved problems and the future of mathematics.
Glossary.
Index.