Love Triangle

This book is an attempt to rescue trigonometry from the bounds of boredom… Parker, who was born in Australia, is maths royalty… Parker is funny, likeable and aware enough of his audience to carry them along. And those who persevere will end up smarter than they were when they started it. You’ll use triangles to understand Einstein’s relativity, and end up at the stark realisation that, at the quantum level, matter — you, I, this book — is all just a set of triangles – Tom Calver * Sunday Times *Matt Parker is a real nerd’s nerd… but we’re in safe hands here as we range from those curvy walls of glass that architects seem to love, to why everyone sees a different rainbow. A funny and often surprising guide to the history of triangles — and the applications (both practical and highly impractical) of trigonometry – Tim Harford * Financial Times *I felt well looked-after, and handled with saint-like patience… Parker has a fine old time with his material, and only a curmudgeon could fail to be charmed by his willingness to call the elongated pentagonal gyrocupolarotunda a “dumb shape”, or Heron’s 2,000-year-old formula for finding the area of a triangle “stupid”. Nor, in the latter case, is he wrong. Four stars – Simon Ings * Telegraph *The maths he expounds so expertly and so clearly is always fascinating – Nick Rennison * Mail on Sunday *Very funny… When it clicks, it is glorious – Chris Stokel-Walker * New Scientist *Despite dealing with what might be familiar concepts, Love Triangle shows that geometry and trigonometry can pop up in exciting and unexpected places. From cosmology to skateboarding, Parker argues that triangles underpin both the epic and the everyday. The book, which is funny and accessible, would also be suitable for keen teenage readers – Katherine Skipper * Physics World *Move over Euclid. It’s Parker Time. Love Triangle is a blissful blend of pure science and pure merriment. Edifying, entertaining, excellent! – Alex JamesMatt Parker is unique: he’s made me laugh about math many times by showing just how weird it can get. He’s also made me cry about math by showing how transcendently beautiful it is – Adam SavageFine. Triangles are now my favourite shape – Hannah FryThe author has a gift for making somewhat tedious topics not only comprehensible and absorbing, but also great fun… Parker’s tireless enthusiasm, light touch, and inviting manner make for a reading experience akin to a visit to Epcot Center, led by a guide in possession of childlike wonder in addition to adult acumen and humor. The author never gets mired in the weeds, even as he manages to cover a tremendous amount of detailed information, aided by illustrations that feature appealing captions running the gamut from simple to complex. A rare book about math sure to make you smile, despite your feelings about the subject. Once again, Parker measures up * Kirkus *

Originally a maths teacher from Australia, Matt Parker is now a stand-up comedian and a YouTuber with over one hundred million views. He is the author of the #1 bestseller Humble Pi and Things to Make and Do in the FourthDimension. Matt is also frequently seen, heard, and read on the Discovery Channel, on BBC radio, and in The Guardian, in that order. He has previously held world records for both the Rubik’s Cube and Space Invaders. In the pursuit of maths, Matt has- flipped a coin 10,000 times, travelled to Antarctica, memorized pi to hundreds of digits, and been bitten by a bullet ant in the Amazon rainforest. Matt has given maths lectures at Cambridge University, Oxford University, Harvard University and Lake Monger Primary School.