FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF PROFESSOR STEWART'S CABINET OF MATHEMATICAL CURIOSITIES

'Britain's most brilliant and prolific populariser of maths' ALEX BELLOS

What is the maximum land you can enclose within a given border?

What is the minimum number of colours you can use to colour a map so that no region shares a shade?

And how do you calculate the shortest route between two cities?

These questions may not seem related, but they have this in common: they all explore extremes: shortest lines, largest areas, fewest colours. They have also led to some of the most important areas of mathematical study and have resulted in numerous applications - from the legend of Dido founding the city of Carthage to modern satellite navigation systems.

From soap bubbles to the universe, Britain's most beloved mathematician tells fascinating stories of the people and ideas pushing the very boundaries of mathematics - and the discoveries that have changed our lives.

Pages: 352, Year of Publication: 2012, Dimensions: 15.4x15.4cm