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Patently Mathematical

Picking Partners, Passwords, and Careers by the Numbers

Jeff Suzuki

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Uncovers the surprising ways math shapes our lives—from whom we date to what we learn.

How do dating sites match compatible partners? What do cell phones and sea coasts have in common? And why do computer scientists keep ant colonies? Jeff Suzuki answers these questions and more in Patently Mathematical, which explores the mathematics behind some of the key inventions that have changed our world.

In recent years, patents based on mathematics have been issued by the thousands—from search engines and image recognition technology to educational software and LEGO designs. Suzuki delves into the...

Uncovers the surprising ways math shapes our lives—from whom we date to what we learn.

How do dating sites match compatible partners? What do cell phones and sea coasts have in common? And why do computer scientists keep ant colonies? Jeff Suzuki answers these questions and more in Patently Mathematical, which explores the mathematics behind some of the key inventions that have changed our world.

In recent years, patents based on mathematics have been issued by the thousands—from search engines and image recognition technology to educational software and LEGO designs. Suzuki delves into the details of cutting-edge devices, programs, and products to show how even the simplest mathematical principles can be turned into patentable ideas worth billions of dollars. Readers will discover

• whether secure credit cards are really secure
• how improved data compression made streaming video services like Netflix a hit
• the mathematics behind self-correcting golf balls
• why Google is such an effective and popular search engine
• how eHarmony and Match.com find the perfect partner for those seeking a mate
• and much more!

A gifted writer who combines quirky historical anecdotes with relatable, everyday examples, Suzuki makes math interesting for everyone who likes to ponder the world of numerical relationships.

Praise for Jeff Suzuki's Constitutional Calculus

"Presents an entertaining and insightful approach to the mathematics that underlies the American system of government. The book is neatly organized, breaking down the United States Constitution by article, section, and amendment. Within each piece, Suzuki reviews the mathematical principles that went into the underlying framework."—Mathematical Reviews

"A breath of fresh air.... A reaffirmation that mathematics should be used more often to make general public policy."—MAA Reviews

Reviews

Reviews

Patently Mathematical by Jeff Suzuki is a chronicle of the various patents based on mathematical algorithm applications. Each of his twelve chapters itemizes a specific family of patents along with pertinent anecdotes and suitable-for-the-general-reader examples illustrating how the algorithms work... Suzuki's book is a kaleidoscopic guided tour of the patented mathematical innovations that by and large now distinctly characterize the twenty-first century with respect to past eras.

About

Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
6
x
9
Pages
296
ISBN
9781421427058
Illustration Description
38 b&w illus.
Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction. My Billion-Dollar Blunder
Chapter 1: The Informational Hokey Pokey
Chapter 2: The Trillion-Dollar Equation
Chapter 3: A Picture Is a Thousand Words
Chapter 4: If You Like

Acknowledgments
Introduction. My Billion-Dollar Blunder
Chapter 1: The Informational Hokey Pokey
Chapter 2: The Trillion-Dollar Equation
Chapter 3: A Picture Is a Thousand Words
Chapter 4: If You Like Piña Coladas
Chapter 5: The Education Revolution
Chapter 6: Forget Your Password? Forget Your Password!
Chapter 7: The Company We Keep
Chapter 8: The Best of All Possible Worlds
Chapter 9: The Complete Saga
Chapter 10: Complexity from Simplicity
Chapter 11: RSA...
Chapter 12:... Is Passé
Epilogue
Bibliography
Index

Author Bio
Jeff Suzuki
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Jeff Suzuki

Jeff Suzuki is an associate professor of mathematics at Brooklyn College. He is the author of Mathematics in Historical Context and Constitutional Calculus: The Math of Justice and the Myth of Common Sense.