Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Numbers game

20 July 2002

How Long is a Piece of String? by Rob Eastaway and Jeremy Wyndham, Robson Books, £12.95, ISBN 1861055056 Reviewed by Roy Herbert

THAT popular saying about pessimists, optimists and partly filled glasses of water could soon disappear down the plughole. The highly diverting How Long is a Piece of String? shows that such perceptions are irrelevant – because there’s a calculation proving that full equals empty.

Rob Eastaway and Jeremy Wyndham’s book on the underlying mathematics in everyday situations and actions is more fun than a ride in a one-horse open sleigh. Or a taxi, for that matter. Anyone mystified by the way a taximeter clicks up…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with Âé¶¹´«Ã½ events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, today with our introductory offers

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop