Download or read book Mathletics: A Scientist Explains 100 Amazing Things About the World of Sports written by John D. Barrow and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2012-06-18 with total page 277 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An entertaining, eye-opening guide to what math and physics can reveal about sports. How can sprinter Usain Bolt break his world record without expending any additional effort? What dates of birth give rise to the best professional athletes? Is it better to have the inside or outside lane during a race? Drawing on vivid, real-life examples, mathematician John D. Barrow entertainingly explores the eye-opening, often counterintuitive, insights into the world of sports that math and physics can give us. For example, we learn that left-handed boxers have a statistical advantage over their right-handed opponents. Through clear, detailed, and fascinating mathematical explanations, Barrow reveals the best techniques and strategies for an incredible range of sports, from soccer and running to cycling, archery, gymnastics, and rowing.