Description
Unlock the mysteries of numbers with 'Millions, Billions, Zillions,' a transformative guide that empowers you to decipher bogus numbers and misleading data. Authored by esteemed computer scientist Brian Kernighan, this book arms you with essential tools to navigate the overwhelming flood of information in today's data-driven world. From media reports to financial statistics, we are constantly bombarded with claims involving millions, billions, and trillions, often presented in misleading or confusing ways.
In this enlightening read, Kernighan unveils the tricks behind big numbers, helping even those who fear mathematics to gain confidence. With practical examples taken from journalism, advertising, and politics, he reveals how numbers can distort reality and impact our decisions—transforming how you evaluate what you read and how you vote.
This crucial guide explores big numbers, dimensions, and deceptive graphs, offering shortcuts and strategies to spot common mistakes. Learn to assess the credibility of the data presented to you, make sensible estimates, and navigate through misinformation with ease. 'Millions, Billions, Zillions' is more than just a book; it's a survival toolkit for anyone overwhelmed by the big and often bad data in our lives.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691182773
Format: Trade Binding
Year: 2019
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691182773
Format: Trade binding
Year: 2019
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
An essential guide to recognizing bogus numbers and misleading data
Numbers are often intimidating, confusing, and even deliberately deceptive-especially when they are really big. The media loves to report on millions, billions, and trillions, but frequently makes basic mistakes or presents such numbers in misleading ways. And misunderstanding numbers can have serious consequences, since they can deceive us in many of our most important decisions, including how to vote, what to buy, and whether to make a financial investment. In this short, accessible, enlightening, and entertaining book, leading computer scientist Brian Kernighan teaches anyone-even diehard math-phobes-how to demystify the numbers that assault us every day.
With examples drawn from a rich variety of sources, including journalism, advertising, and politics, Kernighan demonstrates how numbers can mislead and misrepresent. In chapters covering big numbers, units, dimensions, and more, he lays bare everything from deceptive graphs to speciously precise numbers. And he shows how anyone-using a few basic ideas and lots of shortcuts-can easily learn to recognize common mistakes, determine whether numbers are credible, and make their own sensible estimates when needed.
Giving you the simple tools you need to avoid being fooled by dubious numbers, Millions, Billions, Zillions is an essential survival guide for a world drowning in big-and often bad-data.
In this enlightening read, Kernighan unveils the tricks behind big numbers, helping even those who fear mathematics to gain confidence. With practical examples taken from journalism, advertising, and politics, he reveals how numbers can distort reality and impact our decisions—transforming how you evaluate what you read and how you vote.
This crucial guide explores big numbers, dimensions, and deceptive graphs, offering shortcuts and strategies to spot common mistakes. Learn to assess the credibility of the data presented to you, make sensible estimates, and navigate through misinformation with ease. 'Millions, Billions, Zillions' is more than just a book; it's a survival toolkit for anyone overwhelmed by the big and often bad data in our lives.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691182773
Format: Trade Binding
Year: 2019
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691182773
Format: Trade binding
Year: 2019
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
An essential guide to recognizing bogus numbers and misleading data
Numbers are often intimidating, confusing, and even deliberately deceptive-especially when they are really big. The media loves to report on millions, billions, and trillions, but frequently makes basic mistakes or presents such numbers in misleading ways. And misunderstanding numbers can have serious consequences, since they can deceive us in many of our most important decisions, including how to vote, what to buy, and whether to make a financial investment. In this short, accessible, enlightening, and entertaining book, leading computer scientist Brian Kernighan teaches anyone-even diehard math-phobes-how to demystify the numbers that assault us every day.
With examples drawn from a rich variety of sources, including journalism, advertising, and politics, Kernighan demonstrates how numbers can mislead and misrepresent. In chapters covering big numbers, units, dimensions, and more, he lays bare everything from deceptive graphs to speciously precise numbers. And he shows how anyone-using a few basic ideas and lots of shortcuts-can easily learn to recognize common mistakes, determine whether numbers are credible, and make their own sensible estimates when needed.
Giving you the simple tools you need to avoid being fooled by dubious numbers, Millions, Billions, Zillions is an essential survival guide for a world drowning in big-and often bad-data.