Slippery Math In Public Affairs - Price Tag And Defense (Hardcover, illustrated edition)

Examines flawed usage of math in public affairs through actual cases of how mathematical data and conclusions can be distorted and misrepresented to influence public opinion. Highlights how slippery numbers and questionable mathematical conlusions emerge and what can be done to safeguard against them. This pragmatic book examines flawed usage of math in public affairs through actual cases of how mathematical data and conclusions can be distorted and misrepresented to influence public opinion-highlighting how slippery numbers and questionable mathematical conclusions emerge and what can be done to safeguard against them. Gives specific examples of governmental and private sector math manipulation. Slippery Math in Public Affairs analyzes the cost of "slippery math" in terms of squandered resources identifies common misperceptions about the role of math in public affairs discusses how math education can be reformed to sharpen public awareness of "slippery math" offers exemplary self-study programs to improve perspective on the use of math depicts the development of math models and their use and misuse considers proper and improper polling methods With nearly 200 references cited, this book will benefit math teachers; educators; mathematicians; applied statisticians; multivariate analysts; biomathematicians and medical personnel; public administrators; political scientists; business administrators; operations managers; urban and public affairs officials; economists; demographers; sociologists; anthropologists; public-policy makers; public affairs analysts and commentators; journalists; and the general reader who seeks to avoid being manipulated by math; and is essential reading for undergraduate and graduate students in the aforementioned disciplines.