From Sudoku to Quantum Mechanics, Unraveling the Mysteries of Mathematics! What's the formula for changing intimidation to exhilaration? When it comes to math, it's The Handy Math Answer Book! From a history dating back to prehistoric times and ancient Greece to how we use math in our everyday lives, this fascinating and informative guide addresses the basics of algebra, calculus, geometry, and trigonometry, and then proceeds to practical applications. You'll find easy-to-follow explanations of how math is used in daily financial and market reports, weather forecasts, real estate valuations, games, and measurements of all kinds. In an engaging question-and-answer format, more than 1,000 everyday math questions and concepts are tackled and explained, including ... What are a googol and a googolplex? What are some of the basic “building blocks” of geometry? What is a percent? How do you multiply fractions? What are some of the mathematics behind global warming? What does the philosophy of mathematics mean? What is a computer“app”? What's the difference between wet and dry measurements when you're cooking? How often are political polls wrong? How do you figure out a handicap in golf and bowling? How does the adult brain process fractions? And many, many more! For parents, teachers, students, and anyone seeking additional guidance and clarity on their mathematical quest, The Handy Math Answer Book is the perfect guide to understanding the world of numbers bridging the gap between left- and right-brained thinking. Appendices on Measurements and Conversion Factors plus Common Formulas for Calculating Areas and Volumes of shapes are also included. Its helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness.
Kids ask the darndest things . . . and here are the answers—all in one helpful book! Anyone who has ever been a kid, raised a kid, or spent any time with kids knows that asking questions is a critical part of being a kid. Kids have curious minds, and they come up with some very interesting questions. Why do dogs bark? Why is the sky blue? Why do people have to grow old? Questions like these are how kids find out about the world, and these questions deserve answers. But the truth is, adults don’t always know the answers. The Handy Answer Book for Kids (and Parents) comes to the rescue! Written with a child's imagination in mind, this easy-to-understand book is a launching pad for curious young minds and a life raft for parents at wits end. It addresses nearly 800 queries with enough depth and detail to both satisfy the curiosity of persistent young inquisitors and provide parents with a secure sense of a job well done. It'll equip every parent for those difficult, absurd, or sometimes funny questions from their kids, such as … Why do people speak different languages? Why do I cry? How can fish breathe underwater? Can people who die see and talk with living people after they are gone? Why do women in some countries wear veils? How did my life begin? How does a vacuum cleaner pick up dirt? How does my body know to wake up when morning comes? With numerous photos and illustrations, this tome is richly illustrated, and its helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness. A launching pad for inquisitive young minds and a life raft for parents who are at their wits’ end, The Handy Answer Book for Kids (and Parents) is a book that every parent needs, and every kid will covet!
Two established science writers and researchers distill and present the latest and most important information on anatomy and physiology in an easy-to-use, question-and-answer approach. We all have one. The human body. But do we really know all of its parts and how they work? The Handy Anatomy Answer Book is the key to unlocking this door to a wondrous world. Learn how the body heals wounds. Untangle the mysteries of eyesight. Discover how cells organize themselves into organs and other tissues. From the violent battleground that is the immune system to the hundreds of miles of muscle fibers, nerves, veins, and arteries that fill our bodies, the human is a miracle waiting to be explored. The Handy Anatomy Answer Book covers all the major body systems: integumentary (skin, hair, etc.), skeletal, muscular, nervous, sensory, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive, and, for good measure, adds chapters on growth and development and how science can help and augment the body. It follows the fascinating maze of organ systems and shows how much the body does routinely just to let you move, breathe, eat, and fight off disease. Fascinating trivia, along with serious facts, combine to answer over 1,200 questions about the human body, including … Who were Hippocrates and Galen? What is Gray’s Anatomy? Do all animals need oxygen? What are the largest, smallest, and longest cells in the human body? What is the average lifespan of various cells in the human body? Does exercise increase the number of muscle cells? What is phantom limb pain? Should ear wax be removed? What does it mean to have 20/20 vision? Do identical twins have the same fingerprints? Do the hair and nails continue to grow after death? How strong is bone? Which is the only bone that does not touch another bone? What does it mean when someone is “double-jointed”? How many muscles does it take to produce a smile versus a frown? What are tendons? What is Botox? What is the effect of aging on the muscular system? What are the functions of the nervous system? What are the causes of epilepsy? How large is the brain? What is a concussion? What are the seven warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease? What is a reflex? How much sleep does an individual need? How are hormones classified? What is the difference between Type I and Type II diabetes? Do males have estrogen and females have testosterone in their respective systems? Why is blood sticky? How does exercise affect the heart? Why does blood in the veins look blue? What is an autoimmune disease? What are “swollen glands”? Why is it difficult to treat viral infections with medications? What was the earliest known vaccination? What’s the difference between an intolerance and an allergy? What is the Adam’s apple? Why is it more difficult to breathe at high altitudes? How much force does a human bite generate? Does the stomach have a memory? What is “gluten intolerance”? What are the causes of obesity? What percent of a person’s intake of water comes from drinking water? Is urine always yellow in color? What are the phases of the reproductive cycle? How do the terms zygote, embryo, and fetus differ? How does fetal blood differ form adult blood? How are PET scans used to detect and treat cancer? When was the first successful pacemaker invented? What is an artificial joint? Can humans use organs from other animals for transplants? A glossary and index are included, along with nearly 120 color illustrations, detailed medical charts and photographs help supplement the text. This handy reference helps make the language of anatomy—as well as physiology and pathology—more understandable and less intimidating. The Handy Anatomy Answer Book is an engaging look at the topic, the historic development of the science, the personalities behind the research, and the latest controversies and scientific advancements.
A brilliant tour of mathematical thought and a guide to becoming a better thinker, How Not to Be Wrong shows that math is not just a long list of rules to be learned and carried out by rote. Math touches everything we do; It's what makes the world make sense. Using the mathematician's methods and hard-won insights-minus the jargon-professor and popular columnist Jordan Ellenberg guides general readers through his ideas with rigor and lively irreverence, infusing everything from election results to baseball to the existence of God and the psychology of slime molds with a heightened sense of clarity and wonder. Armed with the tools of mathematics, we can see the hidden structures beneath the messy and chaotic surface of our daily lives. How Not to Be Wrong shows us how--Publisher's description.
Bridges the gap between today's entertainment-focused “pop psychology” on television and the dry academic research that is published in journals. A primer on human behavior and psychology. The Handy Psychology Answer Book helps answer why humans do what we do through accurate scientific data presented in a lively, accessible, and engaging way. It covers the fundamentals and explains the psychology behind how people deal with money, sex, morality, family, children, aging, addiction, work, and other everyday issues. It takes a journey through the history and science of psychology and showing how psychology affects us all. Fully revised to reflect the latest scientific research—such as the current DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association); the latest neurobiological theories; and the changing face of marriage—this timely reference has expanded to include information sections on the biology and evolution of emotions; technology and adolescence; bisexuality; optimism; autism; as well as a full section on the law, eyewitness testimony and police shootings. Featuring more than 1,500 answers to questions concerning how the human mind and the science of psychology really work, this fascinating guide delivers the real facts of modern psychology, along with fun factoids and thought-provoking insights into what motivates human behavior. This intriguing exploration provides insights into the current science of the mind by answering questions such as: How have other cultures addressed psychological issues? Why was Freud so focused on sex? How do twin studies help illuminate the role of genetics? How can I maintain a healthy brain? Why do some people hear voices that aren’t really there? Why do children see monsters in the closet at night? How have recent changes in technology affected adolescent development? Why does time seem to speed up as we age? Is it normal to argue during marriage? Does religion make people happier? How do we reduce social prejudice? How has morality changed over the course of history? What are the personality traits of people who succeed in their professions? Why do so many politicians get trapped in scandals? Does genetics play a role in voting behavior? Which therapies are best for which kinds of problems? How might the stress of police work affect decision-making in high stress situations? The Handy Psychology Answer Book also includes a helpful glossary of terms, complete reference sources for topics discussed, and an index. With a wide range of information suitable for everyone, this is the ideal source for anyone looking to get a better understanding of psychology. It provides clear answers on the history, basic science and latest research, and psychology behind everyday situations and at different stages in life.
Your Total Solution for Math Prekindergarten will delight young children with activities that teach numbers 0–10, same/different and other basic concepts, sorting, shapes, counting money, and more. Your Total Solution for Math provides lots of fun-to-do math practice for children ages 4–8. Colorful pages teach numbers, counting, sorting, sequencing, shapes, patterns, measurement, and more. Loaded with short, engaging activities, these handy workbooks are a parent’s total solution for supporting math learning at home during the important early years.
These simple math secrets and tricks will forever change how you look at the world of numbers. Secrets of Mental Math will have you thinking like a math genius in no time. Get ready to amaze your friends—and yourself—with incredible calculations you never thought you could master, as renowned “mathemagician” Arthur Benjamin shares his techniques for lightning-quick calculations and amazing number tricks. This book will teach you to do math in your head faster than you ever thought possible, dramatically improve your memory for numbers, and—maybe for the first time—make mathematics fun. Yes, even you can learn to do seemingly complex equations in your head; all you need to learn are a few tricks. You’ll be able to quickly multiply and divide triple digits, compute with fractions, and determine squares, cubes, and roots without blinking an eye. No matter what your age or current math ability, Secrets of Mental Math will allow you to perform fantastic feats of the mind effortlessly. This is the math they never taught you in school.
School maths is not the interesting part. The real fun is elsewhere. Like a magpie, Ian Stewart has collected the most enlightening, entertaining and vexing 'curiosities' of maths over the years... Now, the private collection is displayed in his cabinet. There are some hidden gems of logic, geometry and probability -- like how to extract a cherry from a cocktail glass (harder than you think), a pop up dodecahedron, the real reason why you can't divide anything by zero and some tips for making money by proving the obvious. Scattered among these are keys to unlocking the mysteries of Fermat's last theorem, the Poincaré Conjecture, chaos theory, and the P/NP problem for which a million dollar prize is on offer. There are beguiling secrets about familiar names like Pythagoras or prime numbers, as well as anecdotes about great mathematicians. Pull out the drawers of the Professor's cabinet and who knows what could happen...
An engaging question-and-answer guide to the world's major religions. Why do conflicts in the name of God persist—even though religious scholars agree that all great religions are based on love, not carnage? What do different faiths have to say about God? About the afterlife? The spiritual world we live in today is a diverse and sometimes highly individualized mixture of religious practices and beliefs. The physical world is a much smaller place, often secular in appearance but still very much fueled by religious beliefs and conflict in the name of God. The Handy Religion Answer Book is an easy-to-use comparative guide for anyone seeking a greater understanding of the world's religious beliefs, customs, and practices. It provides solid descriptions of major beliefs and rituals worldwide, affording the reader an understanding of contemporary religion. This book contains detailed descriptions of the history, beliefs, symbols, rituals, observations, customs, membership, leaders, and organization of the world’s eight major religious traditions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto. Clearly and eloquently written by a scholar with over 40 years of study and teaching experience, The Handy Religion Answer Book is an engaging guide for anyone seeking basic religious literacy and intellectual history. This handy primer contains a wealth of information and answers more than 1,000 questions, such as ... What is the significance of the Star of David? How did so many different Christian churches come into being? What is the importance of the month of Ramadan? What is an ayatollah? Do Taoists believe in heaven and hell? What are the main Islamic notions of the afterlife? Who is the Dalai Lama and why is he important to so many Buddhists? Plus, it includes questions concerning religion and violence and suborganizations that claim affiliation with the major faith communities. A glossary of religious terminology and maps of the general coverage areas for each religion are also included. Enlightening and educational, The Handy Religion Answer Book clears up misinformation and misconceptions, and helps explain cultural and historical differences, providing the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the world’s great religions.
