Publisher's Synopsis
WINNER OF THE LA TIMES SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023 BOOK PRIZE A New Scientist Best Book of 2023 Why is -(-1) = 1? Why do odd and even numbers alternate? What's the point of algebra? Is maths even real? From imaginary numbers to the perplexing order of operations we all had drilled into us, Eugenia Cheng - mathematician, writer and woman on a mission to rid the world of maths phobia - brings us maths as we've never seen it before, revealing how profound insights can emerge from seemingly unlikely sources. Written with intelligence and passion, Is Maths Real? is a celebration of the true, curious spirit of the discipline.