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9780486803487

Numbers Histories, Mysteries, Theories

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  • ISBN13:

    9780486803487

  • ISBN10:

    0486803481

  • Format: Paperback
  • Copyright: 2016-01-14
  • Publisher: Dover Publications
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Supplemental Materials

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Summary

Posing the question "What exactly is a number?" a distinguished German mathematician presents this intriguing and accessible survey. Albrecht Beutelspacher ― founder of the renowned interactive mathematics museum, Mathematikum ― characterizes the wealth of experiences that numbers have to offer. In addition, he considers the many things that can be described by numbers and discusses which numbers possess special fascinations and pose lasting mysteries.
Starting with natural numbers, the book examines representations of numbers, rational and irrational numbers, transcendental numbers, and imaginary and complex numbers. Readers will explore the history of numbers from Pythagoras to Fermat and discover such practical applications as cryptography and barcodes. A thoughtful and enlightening introduction to the past, present, and future of numbers, this volume will captivate mathematicians and nonmathematicians alike.

Author Biography

German mathematican Albrecht Beutelspacher is well known in his native country as a writer of books on popular science and recreational mathematics. He is also the founder of Germany's first math museum, the Mathematikum. 
 

Table of Contents

Preface
1.  Natural Numbers
1.1  Counting
1.2  Properties of numbers
1.3  Magic squares
1.4  Prime numbers
1.5  From Pythagoras to Fermat
1.6  What are natural numbers?
1.7  Applications: Cryptography
2.  Representations of numbers
2.1  How were numbers represented in former times?
2.2  The abacus and counting board
2.3  The decimal system
2.4  Divisibility rules
2.5  Binary numbers
2.6  Applications: Barcodes
3.  Rational and irrational
3.1  Fractions
3.2  Ratios
3.3  Rational numbers
3.4  Irrational numbers: The first crisis
3.5  Decimal numbers
4.  Transcendental numbers
4.1  The most mysterious number
4.2  Limits
4.3  How many transcendental numbers are there?
5.  Imaginary and complex
5.1  Linear equations
5.2  Quadratic equations
5.3  The drama of the cubic equation
5.4  The tragedy of the quintic equation
5.5  Every equation can be solved!
Notes from the translators
Bibliography
Index
 

Supplemental Materials

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The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

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