Description

The world’s most powerful mathematics. Applied to the world’s most absurd questions.

‘Absolutely splendiferous’ TIM HARFORD
‘Hugely entertaining’ SUSIE DENT
‘Bonkers, but in a brilliant way’ MARCUS DU SAUTOY

Could the Death Star’s laser actually blow up a planet?
What is the half-life of the Incredible Hulk?
Which Harry Potter broomstick is the most aerodynamic?
And is the meaning of life really ’42’?

Join Dr Tom Crawford on a tour through the real-world maths behind science fiction and fantasy. Drawing on a decade’s research at some of the world’s leading universities, he answers all the most bamboozling maths questions raised by Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars and more: from calculating Frodo Baggins’ life insurance premium for his journey to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, to establishing how rich Mario would be after he’d collected all those coins.

The result is both a dizzying compendium of ‘did you know?’ facts and a guide to the mathematics of life, the universe and everything.

‘The maths teacher we all wish we’d had.’ BOBBY SEAGULL, author of The Life-Changing Magic of Numbers

‘Brilliant . . . All the mathematical answers to the ridiculous questions you never thought to ask.’ RACHEL RILEY, author of At Sixes and Sevens

‘Delightful . . . If you ever thought that maths is dry and incomprehensible, this will make you reconsider!’ MARTIN HAIRER, recipient of the Fields Medal

‘I loathe fantasy, and even I can’t help admiring this book.’ DAVID SPIEGELHALTER, author of The Art of Statistics

Publisher Review

Bonkers, but in a brilliant way. Tom Crawford has taken the Venn diagram of all the things he’s passionate about, and the intersection is this fun journey through imaginary worlds via his clever mathematical perspective. * Marcus du Sautoy, Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science, University of Oxford, and author of The Music of the Primes * A hugely entertaining book that turns some of the most improbable questions posed by fantasy worlds into genuine mathematical adventures. It is as educational as it is playful: I loved it. * Susie Dent, author of Word Perfect (and presenter of Countdown) * This book is (mathematical) proof that math can, in fact, be fun, because Dr Tom Crawford makes it so. Whereas most books introduce math so that you can eventually solve real-world problems, Tom’s book introduces real-world (well, Super Mario World) problems that you can start solving today. They just so happen to need math, but Tom will teach you all that you need know along the way. Gotta catch ’em all. * David J. Malan, Gordon McKay Professor of the Practice of Computer Science, Harvard University, and creator of the most popular computer science course in the world, Harvard CS50 * Tom Crawford is brilliant, and now he offers mathematical answers to the ridiculous questions you never thought to ask. * Rachel Riley, author of At Sixes and Sevens (and presenter of Countdown) * Dr Tom Crawford is the maths teacher we all wish we’d had. The man who can find an equation lurking inside a Pokedex, a Horcrux or the blast radius of the Death Star . . . This is a brilliant tour through the maths hiding in the imaginary worlds we love, proving that numbers can make even the most fantastical stories even more fascinating. I’m already tapping my fingers and waiting for the sequel. * Bobby Seagull, maths teacher and author of The Life-Changing Magic of Numbers * Have you ever wondered which Quidditch broomstick is the most aerodynamic or what were Frodo’s chances of surviving his journey? In this delightful book, these and other similarly whimsical questions are taken seriously, gently leading the reader to increasingly sophisticated mathematical concepts. If you ever thought that maths is dry and incomprehensible, this will make you reconsider! * Martin Hairer, Professor of Mathematics, Imperial College London, and recipient of the Fields Medal and the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics * A mathematical romp through your favourite fantasy worlds. Tom tackles the questions you never knew you needed answering using the maths you never realised you needed to know. * Kit Yates, author of The Maths of Life and Death * I loathe fantasy, and even I can’t help admiring this book. * David Spiegelhalter, fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge and author of The Art of Statistics * For those with a curious mind and a love of fantasy: Tom Crawford’s wit and patience will seduce you to discover a surprising variety of fundamental mathematical principles. * Avi Widgerson, Herbert H. Maass Professor Mathematics, Institute for Advanced Study, and recipient of the Turing Award and Abel Prize * An absolutely splendiferous voyage through our favourite imaginary worlds, powered by some surprisingly sophisticated mathematics. You’ll love it, and you’ll learn something. I did. * Tim Harford, FT columnist and author of How To Make The World Add Up *