There may never have been a math textbook created with the intention to provide a historical context to mathematics in the way that Falbo’s work routinely and effectively accomplishes. Beginning with the emergence of arithmetic during the Stone Age over forty thousand years ago in Tibet and South Africa, the author demonstrates the influence of math all over the world, including, but not limited to, China, Persia, Greece, and Europe as a whole. Though most have always viewed mathematics as simply crunching numbers and formulas, math’s potency and depth of thought are highlighted throughout and are instrumental in instilling a strong, fundamental basis for the mathematics that so many students think they are learning without meaning or purpose.

The universal nature of mathematics as a language is on full display here. In particular, scholars of all ages will never view the equal sign in the same way after experiencing the uniqueness and depths of its utilization in any variation of a math question. Whether it is doing a deep dive into Euclidean mathematics or making readers privy to the origins behind Galois Theory, Falbo turns the knowledge of mathematics into a unique experience that ultimately goes from the historical context and how it was all derived to the practicality of how it can be used in one’s day-to-day lifestyle.

Examining the author’s discussions and explanations of the more commonly used mathematical concepts aligns seamlessly with the context he provides. For instance, the section on matrices is a highly-detailed and well-articulated portion that not only provides a greater understanding of game theory but also helps readers connect complex math questions with real-life scenarios (e.g., the rock paper scissors game) that they are well acquainted with. Further, Falbo asks deeply probing questions and adopts the philosophical angle, pondering things like “What are numbers? What is addition?” Similarly, the use of the closure law to help audiences understand the properties of binary operations is refreshing, being simplified in ways that even the layman can easily understand.

While the narrative behind math is prevalent throughout, the progression of the text leads to a myriad of useful methodologies for solving problems more efficiently. From easily finding whole numbers whose ratio is equivalent to the decimal equivalent to helping readers work through mind-numbing proofs and theorems, the guide has been superbly constructed as a step-by-step means to create increased understanding. Beyond that, the relevance of mathematics to nearly every one of life’s great tools and innovations, most prominently technology, is unparalleled, and the author establishes this relationship consistently throughout the work. Intriguingly, the author takes seemingly antiquated concepts such as the voltage = current X impedance formula and the quaternion rotation and directly correlates their importance to something as significant as pilot training. With a compelling combination of coordinated solutions, charts galore, and a clear connection to its value in daily life, Falbo takes math from being an archaic subject that is required learning in school and then disposed of to one of passion whose value permeates through all objects in some way, shape or form.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review

Return to USR Home