It's a Numberful World: How Math Is Hiding Everywhere - from the Crown of a Tree to the Sound of a Sine Wave

by Eddie Woo

Overview

2021 Mathical Honor Book

Why aren’t left-handers extinct?
What makes a rainbow round?
How is a pancreas . . . like a pendulum?

Publisher’s note: It’s a Numberful World was published in Australia under the title Woo’s Wonderful World of Maths.

These may not look like math questions, but they are—because they all have to do with patterns. And mathematics, at heart, is the study of patterns.

That realization changed Eddie Woo’s life—by turning the “dry” subject he dreaded in high school into a boundless quest for discovery. Now an award-winning math teacher, Woo sees patterns everywhere: in the “branches” of blood vessels and lightning, in the growth of a savings account and a sunflower, even in his morning cup of tea!

Here are twenty-six bite-size chapters on the hidden mathematical marvels that encrypt our email, enchant our senses, and even keep us alive—from the sine waves we hear as “music” to the mysterious golden ratio.

This book will change your mind about what math can be. We are all born mathematicians—and It’s a Numberful World.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781615196128
Publisher:	The Experiment
Publication date:	09/03/2019
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	151,921
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Eddie Woo is the head mathematics teacher at Cherrybrook Technology High School in Sydney, Australia. He has been teaching mathematics for more than ten years. In 2012, Eddie started recording his lessons and uploading them to YouTube—creating “Wootube.” Since then, he has amassed a following of more than 600,000 subscribers, and his videos have been viewed more than 33 million times. In 2018, Eddie received Australia’s Local Hero Award and was named one of the top ten teachers in the world as a finalist for the Global Teacher Prize.

Editorial Reviews

"Highly unique . . . Eddie Woo keeps his writing extremely conversational. . . . He introduces mathematical vocabulary in a fun and approachable way. . . . A gentle but enthusiastic introduction to a wide variety of interesting mathematical topics."

Mathematical Association of America

"I never thought I’d read a math book cover to cover, let alone sing its praises. Eddie Woo makes math fun, accessible and relevant. Now we can all benefit from his extraordinary skill as a teacher."

Jenny Brockie

"Eddie Woo is one of the best math teachers on the planet. His book is as buoyant, open-hearted, and energetic as he is."

Steven Strogatz

"2021 Mathical Honor Book

"A great introduction to mathematics! . . . Woo manages to make complex math super accessible by weaving it into interesting stories about the world around us."

Mathical

"Lighthearted and delightful . . . invitingly divvied up into twenty-six accessible chapters, It’s a Numberful World is the ideal guide to math’s multi-patterned treasures."

Foreword Reviews

"Praise from Australia

"Learning mathematics is like climbing the stairs of a skyscraper. . . . Some educators scream at us from a tenth-story window as we look up at them in confusion. Eddie greets you at the foyer and is there beside you while you take each and every step. . . . Eddie is more than just the math teacher we all wanted. Eddie is the math teacher we all need."

Simon Pampena

"You probably know acclaimed math teacher Eddie Woo through watching his excellent videos. . . . Well, now there is a book, and it’s a winner. . . . Mr. Woo shows how mathematics lies just beneath the surface in practically every aspect of our lives. What makes it sing is that his engaging personality shines through on every page."

Keith Devlin

"Not just a great teacher, [It’s a Numberful World] shows Eddie to be a storyteller, too. Is there anything the Woo cannot do?"

Adam Spencer

2021 Mathical Honor Book

“A great introduction to mathematics! . . . Woo manages to make complex math super accessible by weaving it into interesting stories about the world around us.”—Mathical

“Lighthearted and delightful . . . invitingly divvied up into twenty-six accessible chapters, It’s a Numberful World is the ideal guide to math’s multi-patterned treasures.”—Foreword Reviews

“Highly unique . . . Eddie Woo keeps his writing extremely conversational. . . . He introduces mathematical vocabulary in a fun and approachable way. . . . A gentle but enthusiastic introduction to a wide variety of interesting mathematical topics.”—Mathematical Association of America

“Eddie Woo is one of the best math teachers on the planet. His book is as buoyant, open-hearted, and energetic as he is.”—Steven Strogatz, author of The Joy of x and Infinite Powers

“You probably know acclaimed math teacher Eddie Woo through watching his excellent videos. . . . Well, now there is a book, and it’s a winner. . . . Mr. Woo shows how mathematics lies just beneath the surface in practically every aspect of our lives. What makes it sing is that his engaging personality shines through on every page.”—Keith Devlin, Stanford University mathematician and author of The Language of Mathematics
 
Praise from Australia

“Learning mathematics is like climbing the stairs of a skyscraper. . . . Some educators scream at us from a tenth-story window as we look up at them in confusion. Eddie greets you at the foyer and is there beside you while you take each and every step. . . . Eddie is more than just the math teacher we all wanted. Eddie is the math teacher we all need.”—Simon Pampena, Australian numeracy ambassador
 
“I never thought I’d read a math book cover to cover, let alone sing its praises. Eddie Woo makes math fun, accessible and relevant. Now we can all benefit from his extraordinary skill as a teacher.”—Jenny Brockie, journalist and TV host
 
“Not just a great teacher, [It’s a Numberful World] shows Eddie to be a storyteller, too. Is there anything the Woo cannot do?”—Adam Spencer, ambassador for mathematics, University of Sydney

From the Publisher

11/01/2019

Gr 7 Up—The author takes readers on a tour of the astounding realm of mathematics and its connections to every area of life. Everyday examples such as card tricks or musical harmony make connections with the reader's background knowledge, while each chapter explores the ways in which math is intertwined throughout the cosmos. Whether a reader is interested in chemistry, origami, lightning, or the circulatory system, this book engagingly traces how various fields of mathematics play a part in understanding each one. Terms like fractals, golden ratio, and Fibonacci sequence are easily comprehensible with the explanations and diagrams provided. The text is informative yet entertaining enough to win over those who are not math lovers. There are quotes from famous mathematicians and even math jokes. The book can be enjoyed from cover to cover, or each chapter can be read as a stand-alone essay. There are also suggestions for further reading. VERDICT Perfect for library collections; or for use in the classroom as a discussion starter.

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