Book Review: Math on Trial - How Numbers Get Used and Abused in the Courtroom

This small volume is a fascinating, cogently written study of mathematics in the courtroom. Leila Schneps and Coralie Colmez, the mother-daughter authors, who live in Paris and London, respectively, examine 10 cases from across the globe and through the centuries to illustrate that “the same mathematical tricks that mislead the public about market trends and risk and social problems have sent innocent people to prison.” (p. ix)