Nice Numbers
Description
In this intriguing book, John Barnes takes us on a journey through aspects of numbers much as he took us on a geometrical journey in Gems of Geometry. Similarly originating from a series of lectures for adult students at Reading and Oxford University, this book touches a variety of amusing and fascinating topics regarding numbers and their uses both ancient and modern.
The author informs and intrigues his audience with both fundamental number topics such as prime numbers and cryptography, and themes of daily needs and pleasures such as counting one's assets, keeping track of time, and enjoying music. Puzzles and exercises at the end of each lecture offer additional inspiration, and numerous illustrations accompany the reader. Furthermore, a number of appendices provides in-depth insights into diverse topics such as Pascal's triangle, the Rubik cube, Mersenne's curious keyboards, and many others. A theme running through is the thought of what is our favourite number.
Written in an engaging and witty style and requiring only basic school mathematical knowledge, this book will appeal to both young and mature readers fascinated by the curiosities of numbers.
Reviews / Votes
"Nice numbers delivers a multi-layered experience to readers of differing mathematical knowledge. . The versatility of this book means that it is suitable for anything between a few paragraphs' glance up to a serious level of study. Those of all mathematical abilities will be able to pick it up and find something that interests them and their level of engagement." (Harry Gray, Plus, plus.maths.org, August, 2018)"The lectures comprise the ten chapters of the book. . the book is suitable for any reader who can do high school level mathematics and has the interest and curiosity to follow Barnes on his wide-ranging explorations. Each chapter ends with suggestions for further reading; most chapters have someexercises for the reader to attempt . ." (Michael Caulfield, MAA Reviews, July, 2017)
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Dr Barnes has published many papers and given many lectures and tutorials on various aspects of programming. Although moving towards retirement he still gives occasional lectures including lectures for postgraduate courses. He has recently rediscovered an interest in mathematics and has given a number of popular courses at the Universities of Reading and Oxford as part of their Continuing Education programs; Gems of Geometry (now in a second edition) is based on one set of these courses.