Mathematics and Sex

Mathematics and sex may make odd bedfellows, but this fun, flirty look at the relationship between the two subjects shows that they are closely related. Revealing the ways in which math can help unlock the secrets of love, lust, and life's search for the ideal partner, this intriguing text covers topics such as dating services, dating as game theory, the mathematical logic of affairs, and the numbers behind orgasms. Math's answers to love's burning questions How much should one compromise in a relationship?Exactly what is it that is attractive in a lover?How many partners should one have before settling down? and What makes the infamous biological clock tick? are also revealed.

Customer Reviews:

Lighthearted, but light and inconsistent

By M. Hyman "Artist at large" - May 5, 2005

I bought this book because of an earlier review that complained about no explanation of the formulae. I was hoping that what that really meant is that it was filled with good math and was in depth. Unfortunately, it isn't.

There are some of the chapters that I found very interesting, such as the chapter on attraction cycles. There are other chapters that were really just fluff. Some quick references to some research, and some silly insinuations about the author's bar hopping experiences or lack thereof.

I liked that the book took a number of concepts and translated them to references to mathematics papers.

I disliked that there was not enough math. Formulas are presented without defining any of the terms. So you might be told that an attraction cycle is represented by f(x)= R(x) + a*B(x). But there is no definition of the R function, how the a constant is derived, or the B function. Nor is there a discussion, usually, of the research that went on to... read more

On the whole an informative book

By Lohit S. Dutta "lohit" - March 8, 2005

Yes, I agree with the previous reviewers that this book is an informative light hearted romp through the world of mathematical

modelling of one of biology's most important topics: sex. But, I am giving this book only 3 stars since I find it very irritating to be fed with mathematical equations where no attempt has ever been made to explain the various variables or even a rudimentary explanation. This is just plain show and very very detracting!

Some Quick Math for Potential Buyers

By Coal Whitewater "Coal Whitewater" - May 12, 2006

Here is some math for customers considering this book. There are 7 reviews preceeding mine. 5 are right. 2 are wrong.

The reviews that are right have noticed that the book contains no math. The reviews that are wrong have noticed that the book is vaguely about sex. Actually it's not. It's about the difficulty difficulty some academics have in starting a sentence and completing it on the same topic.

The trouble with invoking applied mathematics is that you have to support what you're saying. Therefore when offering an equation or formula you traditionally state what the variables stand for.

I assume that the author has this information but finds it difficult to restate in common English. Almost every topic is concluded in this drift: "Well it would be much too time consuming to explain what this formula means but isn't it nice to know that it exists?"

No. I mean it would be, but we don't know that the formula does exist (hapless... read more