Publication

2001 - Hill and Wang, New York, New York (State)

Language

English

Word Count

45,000 words, Guess

Page Count

180 pages

Identifiers

and 1 more
  • LibraryThing57827

Classifications

  • DDC510
  • LCCQA93 .P38 2001
  • LCCQA93

Description

Mathematical Illiteracy and its Consequences is a 1988 book by mathematician John Allen Paulos about innumeracy (deficiency of numeracy) as the mathematical equivalent of illiteracy: incompetence with numbers rather than words. Innumeracy is a problem with many otherwise educated and knowledgeable people.

First Sentence

Two aristocrats are out horseback riding and one challenges the other to see which can come up with the larger number.

Description

John Allen Paulos argues that our inability to deal rationally with very large numbers and the probabilities associated with them results in misinformed governmental policies, confused personal decisions, and an increased susceptibility to pseudoscience of all kinds. Sprinkling his discussion of numbers and probabilities with quirky stories and anecdotes, Paulos ranges freely over many aspects of modern life, from contested elections to sports stats, from stock scams and newspaper psychics to diet and medical claims, sex discrimination, insurance, lotteries, and drug testing.

Subjects

Genres

  • Popular works

Links

Other Editions

  • Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its ConsequencesHill and Wang2001-01-01
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