Maths Tricks to Blow Your Mind: A Journey Through Viral Maths - Hardcover

by Kyle D. Evans (Author)

From the infamous 'Hannah's sweets' exam question to percentages 'life-hacks', viral math problems seem to capture the public's imagination without fail. This is often because they blow people's minds with their logic, or there are multiple answers, or no answer or at all, or they are just generally wacky. The same people who will openly celebrate that they 'never got math' will fight tooth and nail with their Auntie on Facebook over whether the answer to 60 + 60 x 0 + 1 is 61 or 1 (it's 61, by the way.). Why do friends and relatives who would glaze over in a math lesson pile into a discussion with strangers on social media over why the grey elephant comes from Denmark? Math teacher and award-winning science communicator Kyle D Evans wants to explore exactly what it is about viral social media puzzles that is so appealing. Maths Tricks to Blow Your Mind presents 50 or so viral math problems from recent years with background information, explanations and solutions to similar problems, all in a humorous, accessible and inclusive manner. Want to dazzle and delight your friends and family? This book shows you how!

Author Biography

Kyle D Evans is a math teacher and award-winning math presenter and entertainer. In 2016 he was crowned UK champion of Famelab, an international competition run by Cheltenham Science Festival to find the best new voices in science communication. He regularly gives talks (and sings) about math at schools, festivals, and comedy clubs around the UK, as well as presenting to large crowds of teenagers at events such as Math Inspiration. He is passionate about increasing the mathematical literacy of children and adults.