LEADER 03719nam 2200601 a 450 001 9910451558703321 005 20200520144314.0 010 $a1-281-17909-4 010 $a9786611179090 010 $a1-84800-001-4 024 7 $a10.1007/978-1-84800-001-8 035 $a(CKB)1000000000412005 035 $a(EBL)336634 035 $a(OCoLC)234545376 035 $a(SSID)ssj0000212793 035 $a(PQKBManifestationID)11912164 035 $a(PQKBTitleCode)TC0000212793 035 $a(PQKBWorkID)10139027 035 $a(PQKB)10893108 035 $a(DE-He213)978-1-84800-001-8 035 $a(MiAaPQ)EBC336634 035 $a(PPN)123738415 035 $a(Au-PeEL)EBL336634 035 $a(CaPaEBR)ebr10223224 035 $a(CaONFJC)MIL117909 035 $a(EXLCZ)991000000000412005 100 $a20080926d2008 uy 0 101 0 $aeng 135 $aur|n|---||||| 181 $ctxt 182 $cc 183 $acr 200 10$aNumber story$b[electronic resource] $efrom counting to cryptography /$fPeter M. Higgins 205 $a1st ed. 2008. 210 $aLondon $cCopernicus Books$dc2008 215 $a1 online resource (332 p.) 300 $aDescription based upon print version of record. 311 $a1-84800-000-6 320 $aIncludes bibliographical references and index. 327 $aThe First Numbers -- Discovering Numbers -- Some Number Tricks -- Some Tricky Numbers -- Some Useful Numbers -- On the Trail of New Numbers -- Glimpses of Infinity -- Applications of Number: Chance -- The Complex History of the Imaginary -- From Imaginary to Complex -- The Number Line under the Microscope -- Application of Number: Codes and Public Key Cryptography -- For Connoisseurs. 330 $aNumbers have fascinated people for centuries. They are familiar to everyone, forming a central pillar of our understanding of the world, yet the number system was not presented to us "gift-wrapped" but, rather, was developed over millennia. Today, despite all this development, it remains true that a child may ask a question about numbers that no one can answer. Many unsolved problems surrounding number matters appear as quirky oddities of little account while others are holding up fundamental progress in mainstream mathematics. Peter Higgins distills centuries of work into one delightful narrative that celebrates the mystery of numbers and explains how different kinds of numbers arose and why they are useful. Full of historical snippets and interesting examples, the book ranges from simple number puzzles and magic tricks, to showing how ideas about numbers relate to real-world problems, such as: How are our bank account details kept secure when shopping over the internet? What are the chances of winning at Russian roulette; or of being dealt a flush in a poker hand? This fascinating book will inspire and entertain readers across a range of abilities. Easy material is blended with more challenging ideas about infinity and complex numbers, and a final chapter "For Connoisseurs" works through some of the particular claims and examples in the book in mathematical language for those who appreciate a complete explanation. As our understanding of numbers continues to evolve, this book invites us to rediscover the mystery and beauty of numbers and reminds us that the story of numbers is a tale with a long way to run... 606 $aNumber theory 608 $aElectronic books. 615 0$aNumber theory. 676 $a512.7 700 $aHiggins$b Peter M.$f1956-$0949064 801 0$bMiAaPQ 801 1$bMiAaPQ 801 2$bMiAaPQ 906 $aBOOK 912 $a9910451558703321 996 $aNumber story$92196912 997 $aUNINA