CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1  Why Does Monday Come Round So Quickly?

How the numbers of the moon combined to make our week

2  How Do Conmen Get Rich?

Tricks and scams that make people part with their money

3  What Makes a Hit Single?

Patterns and variations that everyone likes

4  Why Won’t the Case Fit in the Boot?

How to squeeze things in or keep them apart

5  Should I Phone a Friend?

How to make the big decisions in game shows

6  Is it Quicker to Take the Stairs?

How to reduce waiting times for lifts

7  How Long Is a Piece of String?

The curious world of fractals

8  Why Do Weather Forecasters Get it Wrong?

Unpredictability and chaos

9  Will I Catch Flu Next Winter?

Epidemics and how they spread

10  Am I Being Taken for a Ride?

The formula behind the taximeter

11  Will I Ever Meet the Perfect Partner?

The chances and choices behind coupling up

12  Is It a Fake?

Number tests that can detect the fraudsters

13  Will the Underdog Win?

The maths behind memorable sporting moments

14  Why Do Karaoke Singers Sound So Bad?

How waves and fractions make good and bad harmony

15  How Can I Be Sure?

The art of proving things

16  Can I Trust What I Read in the Papers?

How spin doctors conjure with figures

References and Further Reading

Index