Millions, Billions, Zillions: Defending Yourself In A World Of Too Many Numbers

Princeton University Press
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9780691182773
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ISBN13:
9780691182773
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An essential guide to recognizing bogus numbers and misleading data Numbers are often intimidating, confusing, and even deliberately deceptiveùespecially 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 anyoneùeven diehard math-phobesùhow 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 anyoneùusing a few basic ideas and lots of shortcutsùcan 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 bigùand often badùdata.


  • | Author: Brian W. Kernighan
  • | Publisher: Princeton University Press
  • | Publication Date: Nov 06, 2018
  • | Number of Pages: 176 pages
  • | Language: English
  • | Binding: Hardcover/Mathematics
  • | ISBN-10: 0691182779
  • | ISBN-13: 9780691182773
Author:
Brian W. Kernighan
Publisher:
Princeton University Press
Publication Date:
Nov 06, 2018
Number of pages:
176 pages
Language:
English
Binding:
Hardcover/Mathematics
ISBN-10:
0691182779
ISBN-13:
9780691182773