The world's most powerful mathematics. Applied to the world's most absurd questions.

'Absolutely splendiferous' TIM HARFORD
'Hugely entertaining' SUSIE DENT
'Bonkers, but in a brilliant way' MARCUS DU SAUTOY
'Brilliant' RACHEL RILEY

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Discover the weird and weirdly compelling maths behind Pokemon, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and more . . .

Could the Death Star's laser actually blow up a planet?
What is the half-life of the Incredible Hulk?
Which Harry Potter broomstick is the most aerodynamic?
And is the meaning of life really '42'?

Join Dr Tom Crawford on a tour through the real-world maths behind science fiction and fantasy. Drawing on a decade's research at some of the world's leading universities, he answers all the most bamboozling maths questions raised by Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars and more: from calculating Frodo Baggins' life insurance premium for his journey to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, to establishing how rich Mario would be after he'd collected all those coins.

The result is both a dizzying compendium of 'did you know?' facts and a guide to the mathematics of life, the universe and everything.

'The maths teacher we all wish we'd had.' BOBBY SEAGULL, author of The Life-Changing Magic of Numbers

'Delightful . . . If you ever thought that maths is dry and incomprehensible, this will make you reconsider!' MARTIN HAIRER, recipient of the Fields Medal

'I loathe fantasy, and even I can't help admiring this book.' DAVID SPIEGELHALTER, author of The Art of Statistics