Read more
Is college worth the cost? Should I worry about arsenic in my rice? Can we recycle pollution? Real questions of personal finance, public health, and social policy require sober, data-driven analyses. This unique text provides students with the tools of quantitative reasoning to answer such questions. The text models how to clarify the question, recognize and avoid bias, isolate relevant factors, gather data, and construct numerical analyses for interpretation. Themes and techniques are repeated across chapters, with a progression in mathematical sophistication over the course of the book, which helps the student get comfortable with the process of thinking in numbers. This textbook includes references to source materials and suggested further reading, making it user-friendly for motivated undergraduate students. The many detailed problems and worked solutions in the text and extensive appendices help the reader learn mathematical areas such as algebra, functions, graphs, and probability. End-of-chapter problem material provides practice for students, and suggested projects are provided with each chapter. A solutions manual is available online for instructors.
List of contents
1. Is college worth the cost?; 2. How many people died in the Civil War?; 3. How much will this car cost?; 4. Should we worry about arsenic in rice?; 5. What is the economic impact of the undocumented?; 6. Should I buy health insurance?; 7. Can we recycle pollution?; 8. Why is it dark at night?; 9. Where do the stars go in the daytime?; 10. Should I take this drug for my headache?; Appendix 1. Numeracy; Appendix 2. Arithmetic; Appendix 3. Algebra; Appendix 4. Geometry; Appendix 5. Units and scientific notation; Appendix 6. Functions; Appendix 7. Probability; Appendix 8. Statistics; Appendix 9. Estimation.
About the author
Eric Zaslow is a Professor of Mathematics at Northwestern University, Illinois. He has a Ph.D. from Harvard University, Massachusetts in mathematical physics.
Summary
This undergraduate textbook serves a course in quantitative thinking by asking a wide variety of real-world questions, such as should I take this drug for my headache? Students learn how to frame a question, gather and analyze data, build mathematical models, and interpret results. All the mathematics is supported with extensive appendices.
Report
'Quantitative Reasoning: Thinking in Numbers is as engaging as it is informative. Zaslow takes intriguing questions, such as 'What impact do undocumented immigrants have on the US economy?' and 'Why is it dark at night?', and skillfully communicates the disciplinary knowledge, data, mathematical tools, and logical reasoning skills needed to approach these questions.' Allison K. Henrich, Seattle University
