A popular one is 'The Housekeeper and the Professor' by Yoko Ogawa. It tells a story where a housekeeper takes care of a brilliant mathematician who has a short - term memory due to an accident. The story is filled with the beauty of mathematics as the professor shares his knowledge with the housekeeper and her son.
One great example is 'Flatland' by Edwin A. Abbott. It uses the concept of a two - dimensional world to explore geometric and social hierarchies in a really interesting way. Another is 'The Number Devil' which makes complex mathematical concepts like number theory more accessible through a story of a boy's dreams.
I also like 'The Number Devil' by Hans Magnus Enzensberger. It makes complex mathematical concepts like prime numbers, Fibonacci sequences, etc., accessible through a story about a boy and a number devil who visits him at night and teaches him math in a fun and imaginative way. This book is really good for getting people interested in the more magical side of mathematics within a fictional framework.
I also recommend 'Sir Cumference and the First Round Table'. It's about Sir Cumference and his family, and it cleverly uses the story to teach about circles, circumference, and other geometric concepts in an easy - to - understand way for beginners.
Another is 'The Number Devil' by Hans Magnus Enzensberger. It tells the story of a boy who dreams about a number devil that teaches him all sorts of interesting math concepts in a fun and engaging manner. There are things like prime numbers, Fibonacci sequences and more. It's a great way to introduce kids to math through a fictional story.
Also, 'A Beautiful Mind' which is based on the life of John Nash. While it's more of a biographical account, it still delves into Nash's mathematical genius and the world of game theory, which is presented within the context of his life story. This shows how real - life mathematical achievements can be turned into engaging fictional - like narratives.
They often incorporate mathematical concepts. For example, like in 'Flatland', the use of geometric shapes to represent different classes in society is a direct use of mathematical ideas.
Mathematical fiction is a genre that combines elements of mathematics and fictional storytelling. It often features mathematical concepts, theories, or problems within a fictional narrative.
One popular mathematical novel is 'Flatland' by Edwin A. Abbott. It uses the concept of a two - dimensional world to explore geometry and social hierarchy. Another is 'The Housekeeper and the Professor' which weaves in mathematical concepts like prime numbers into the story. And 'Fermat's Enigma' is also considered a kind of mathematical novel as it delves into the mystery around Fermat's Last Theorem.
In short mathematical fiction, reality conditions often serve as constraints. For example, in a story about a time - traveling mathematician, the reality condition might be that time - travel follows certain mathematical rules, like the conservation of energy in different time dimensions. This adds a sense of believability to the otherwise fantastical plot.
One characteristic is the use of mathematical concepts as plot devices. For example, in some works, the solution to a mathematical problem might be the key to saving the world. Another is the exploration of theoretical mathematics in a fictional setting, like imagining different geometries or number systems.