#24563
Mentioned in 7 episodes

Humble Pi

A Comedy of Maths Errors
Book • 2019
In 'Humble Pi', Matt Parker delves into a series of real-life events where mathematics did not work out as expected.

He explains glitches, near misses, and mathematical mishaps involving the internet, big data, elections, and more, in a witty and layman-friendly manner.

The book highlights the importance of math in everyday life and the significant consequences of mathematical errors, such as bridge failures and financial blunders.

Parker's approach makes math both fascinating and humorous, showing how math is integrated into our daily lives and why it is essential for our achievements as a species.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 7 episodes

Mentioned by Tim Harford as containing the definitive account of the British Airways Flight 5390 incident.
DOUBLE BILL: A Monkey For Mayor / A Screw Loose At 17,000 Feet
Mentioned by Matt Parker when talking about a mathematician with a mobile phone contract.
112 = Staring Safely At The Sun and Celebrations Off By One
Mentioned by Bec Hill as a book containing deliberate mistakes for fun and to detect plagiarism.
102 = Copyright Traps and Saturday Night Gaps
Recommended by Tim Harford as a funny, nerdy book about real-life consequences of mathematical mistakes.
Cautionary Conversation: Flying on Empty
Mentioned by Tim Harford as a book about mathematical mishaps and their consequences.
Wrong Tools Cost Lives
Mentioned by Bec Hill as a book read by a listener of the podcast.
099 = Most Watched Films and Homonyms
Mentioned by Tim Harford in relation to a numerical dispute involving Pepsi's promotion, highlighting mathematical mishaps in the book "Humble Pie."
Number Fever: How Pepsi Nearly Went Pop
Mentioned by Maddie Safai as the book discussed in today's Pi Day episode.
Humble Pi: Enjoying When Math Goes Awry
Mentioned by Tim Harford in the introduction of Matt Parker, a stand-up mathematician and YouTube sensation.
The numbers behind Squid Game
Mentioned by Maddie Safai as a new book about common math mistakes.
Humble Pi: When Math Goes Awry

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