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The Secret Life of Equations

The 50 Greatest Equations and How They Work
Series: Secret Life of
Brief Description
Behind every important scientific discovery there is an equation. They are far from baffling, and now you too can understand their power and beauty! Discover the 50 equations that have led to incredible discoveries, ground-breaking technology, and have shaped our understanding of the world. From much... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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Unlock the mysteries of the most important, surprising and fascinating equations in history

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Behind every important scientific discovery there is an equation. They are far from baffling, and now you too can understand their power and beauty! Discover the 50 equations that have led to incredible discoveries, ground-breaking technology, and have shaped our understanding of the world.

From much heralded classics as e=mc² and Pythagoras's Theorem, to Fuzzy Logic and Google PageRank, each equation is tackled head-on, broken down, and explained in a unique, entertaining way so that you understand exactly how it works and why it's worth knowing about. Innovative illustrations and accessible text help you understand each equation's function, individual elements, and development.

Along the way, you'll discover some surprising stories about the people behind the discoveries and how their brilliant insights resulted in ideas and technology we now take for granted. Covering geometry, technology, science, chance, and mathematical theory, The Secret Life of Equations will enlighten and entertain in equal measure.

Chapters include:

Geometry and Number

Trigonometry; Fibonacci Numbers; The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

Science

Newton's Second Law; Universal Gravitation; Entropy

Technology

The Cross-Ratio; De Morgan's Laws; Quaternion Rotation

Chance and Uncertainty

The Exponential Distribution; The Normal Distribution; The Chi-Square Test

Series: Secret Life of

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    Every element has character, be it volatile, aloof, gregarious, or enigmatic. They also have incredible stories of how they came to be, how they were discovered, and how their qualities have been harnessed to make everything we have in the world. Dr Ben Still takes you through all the groups, revealing the fascinating circumstances of their discoveries and explaining their...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Secret Life of Equations
    Behind every important scientific discovery there is an equation. They are far from baffling, and now you too can understand their power and beauty! Discover the 50 equations that have led to incredible discoveries, ground-breaking technology, and have shaped our understanding of the world. From much heralded classics as e=mc² and Pythagoras's Theorem, to Fuzzy Logic and Google PageRank, each...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781788405867

Publisher: Octopus Publishing Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 July 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Cassell

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 124.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 219g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Rich Cochrane is a writer and educator. He devises and teaches innovative maths courses for artists at Central Saint Martins, London, and lectures in maths and philosophy at City Lit. He has been commissioned by, among others, the Museum of London to bring cultural history - including maths - to a wider audience.

Rich has written books on literature, music and computing and has for many years organized public educational events in public houses and cafes in London. He also spent a decade working in the City, writing software for derivatives trading floors, which is how he discovered that maths was a lot more interesting than it seemed to be at school, and he has degrees in both maths and English literature and a PhD in philosophy.

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