X Marks the Spot

<p><strong><em>X Marks the Spot is</em></strong> written from the point of view of the users of mathematics. Since the beginning mathematical concepts and techniques (such as arithmetic and geometry) were created as tools with a particular purpose like counting sheep and measuring land areas.</p><p>Understanding those purposes leads to a greater understanding of why mathematics developed as it did. Later mathematical concepts came from a process of abstracting and generalizing earlier mathematics. This process of abstraction is very powerful but often comes at the price of intuition and understanding. This book strives to give a guided tour of the development of various branches of mathematics (and what they’re used for) that will give the reader this intuitive understanding.</p><p>Features</p><ul> <p> </p> <li>Treats mathematical techniques as tools and areas of mathematics as the result of abstracting and generalizing earlier mathematical tools</li> <p> </p> <li>Written in a relaxed conversational and occasionally humorous style making it easy to follow even when discussing esoterica.</li> <p> </p> <li>Unravels how mathematicians think demystifying math and connecting it to the ways non-mathematicians think and connecting math to people’s lives</li> <p> </p> <li>Discusses how math education can be improved in order to prevent future generations from being turned off by math.</li> </ul>