Mathematics With Love: The Courtship Correspondence of Barnes Wallis, Inventor of the Bouncing Bomb (Macmillan Science)

In 1922 Barnes Wallis FRS, who later invented the transatlantic airship and the bouncing bomb immortalized in the movie The Dam Busters, fell in love for the first and last time - aged 35. The object of his affection, Molly Bloxam, was 17 and setting off to study science at University College London. Her father decreed that the two could correspond only if Barnes taught Molly mathematics in his letters. Mathematics with Love presents, for the first time, the result of this curious diktat: a series of witty, tender and totally accessible introductions to calculus, trigonometry and electrostatic induction that remarkably, wooed and won the girl. Deftly narrated by Barnes and Molly's daughter Mary, Mathematics with Love is an evocative tale of a twenties courtship, a surprising insight into the early life of an engineering genius - and a great way to learn a little mathematics. In 1922 Barnes Wallis, Who Later Invented The Bouncing Bomb Immortalized In The Movie The Dam Busters, Fell In Love For The First And Last Time - Aged 35. The Object Of His Affection, Molly Bloxam, Was 17 And Setting Off To Study Science At University College London. Her Father Decreed That The Two Could Correspond Only If Barnes Taught Molly Mathematics In His Letters. Mathematics With Love Presents, For The First Time, The Result Of This Curious Diktat: A Series Of Witty, Tender And Totally Accessible Introductions To Calculus, Trigonometry And Electrostatic Induction That, Remarkably, Wooed And Won The Girl. Narrated By Barnes And Molly's Daughter Mary, Mathematics With Love Is An Evocative Tale Of A Twenties Courtship, A Surprising Insight Into The Early Life Of A World War Two Hero - And A Great Way To Learn A Little Mathematics.--jacket. Mary Stopes-roe. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xii Beginnings....Pages 1-17 A Modern Fairytale....Pages 18-30 Count von in the Limit and the Duke of Delta Eks....Pages 31-56 Back in England — one Year on....Pages 57-80 Airships Again....Pages 81-100 Poor Old Y....Pages 101-116 Real Trig. at Last!....Pages 117-132 Holidays....Pages 133-156 Stale Bread and Margarine....Pages 157-179 The End of the Stale Bread....Pages 180-203 From the Sick Bed....Pages 204-219 The Floodgates Opened....Pages 220-236 A Measure of Normality....Pages 237-258 Love Takes the Stage....Pages 259-274 Two Years on: The Changing Future....Pages 275-292 Mr Bloxam’s “Cure”....Pages 293-314 Problems and Rewards....Pages 315-327 Doubts and Fears....Pages 328-339 The Answer....Pages 340-357 Back Matter....Pages 358-363 This evocative snapshot of a twenties courtship offers a surprising insight into the early life of the World War Two hero - Barnes Wallis, and a great way to learn a little mathematics.