Book:Rob Eastaway/Why do Buses Come in Threes?

From ProofWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Rob Eastaway and Jeremy Wyndham: How Long is a Piece of String? More hidden mathematics of everyday life

Published $\text {1998}$, Robson

ISBN 1-86105-862-4


Contents

Foreword by Tim Rice
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1 Why can't I find a four-leafed clover?
Links between nature and mathematics
2 Which way should I go?
From postmen to taxi frivers
3 How many people watch Coronation Street?
Most public statistics come from surveys, but how reliable are they?
4 Why do clever people get things wrong?
Sometimes experience and intelligence can be a disadvantage
5 What's the best bet?
Lotteries, horses and casinos all offer the chance of a big prize
6 How do you explain a coincidence?
Coincidences aren't as surprising as you would think
7 What's the best view of Nelson's column?
Everyday geometries, from snooker to statues
8 How do you keep a secret?
Code-making and breaking isn't just for spies
9 Why do buses come in threes?
Travelling without a car leads to all sorts of conundrums
10 What's the best way to sut a cake?
Why four o'clock can be the time for some mathematical headaches
11 How can I win without cheating?
Almost everything in life can be analysed as a game
12 Who's the best in the world?
The mathematics behind sports rankings
14 What happened to chapter 13?
Can bad luck be explained?
15 Whodunnit?
Everyday logic, from murder mysteries to parliamentary debates
16 Why am I always in traffic jams?
Motorways, escalators and supermarkets all have one thing in common: queues
17 Why are showers too hot or too cold?
From squealing microphones to population explosions
18 How can I get the meal ready on time?
Critical paths and other scheduling problems
19 How can I entertain the kids?
Numbers can be magic
References and Further Reading
Index