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Nonplussed!: mathematical proof of implausible ideas

Math--the application of reasonable logic to reasonable assumptions--usually produces reasonable results. But sometimes math generates astonishing paradoxes--conclusions that seem completely unreasonable or just plain impossible but that are nevertheless demonstrably true: Conclusions that, for exam...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Havil, Julian
Lenguaje:eng
Publicado: Princeton Univ. Press 2007
Materias:
Acceso en línea:http://cds.cern.ch/record/1158205
Descripción
Sumario:Math--the application of reasonable logic to reasonable assumptions--usually produces reasonable results. But sometimes math generates astonishing paradoxes--conclusions that seem completely unreasonable or just plain impossible but that are nevertheless demonstrably true: Conclusions that, for example, tell us that a losing sports team can become a winning one by adding worse players than its opponents. Or that the thirteenth of the month is more likely to be a Friday than any other day. Or that cones can roll unaided uphill. In Nonplussed!--a delightfully eclectic collection of paradoxes fro