- Paperback: 160 pages
- Publisher: Scholastic; 1 edition (5 Feb 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0439943280
- ISBN-13: 978-0439943284
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 13 x 1.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 440,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Will show readers how to encode/decode their own messages in as many ways as possible. Examples of differently coded messages will also fit in well with the diverse range of the usual MM characters Contents would include: • Disguised codes (e.g. see the last para of synopsis) • Scrambled codes (where the order of letters is mixed up) • Substitution codes (where letters are replaced by other letters or symbols or just 14 21 13 2 5 18 19 • Some history of how codes have been used in the past, from ancient Roman times to cracking the WW2 German Enigma machine. • Other message systems such as morse code, flags and also activity ideas such as making cut-out stencils that work with code grids. Although the other MM books deliberately avoid exercises or setting questions, this title lends itself to setting messages that need decoding by the reader, possibly leading up to a mega message to decode at the end. Can you see this very last paragraph is coded? (Read all the fourth words). The book demonstrates other codes you've probably never ...
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
'..dedicated to a particular branch of mathematics - in this case, we have 'cryptanalysis'!
7 Mar 2007
Format:Paperback
'Guarantee - this book contains no nasty exercises and no boring sums'
Each of the books in this series is dedicated to a particular branch of mathematics - in this case, we have `cryptanalysis'.
'Is maths making you miserable?
Are you confused by ciphers and baffled by binary?
Let 'Murderous Maths' take the agony out of cryptanalysis and you'll be a code-cracking genius in no time.
The Pure Mathematicians explain how a computer can make buying shoes safe and the secrets of ENIGMA are revealed.
Plus, find out Dolly Snowlips' waist size and a tatty tablecloth can help the Gangsters with their latest money-making scheme.'
The colourful, humorous cover opens to 160 pages, split over 11 chapters:-
A sneaky start
Disguised messages
Scrambling codes
Substitution codes
One-time pads
Grid codes
The Enigma machine
Number messages
Pig pens
Double codes
The uncrackable credit card code
written in a variety of fonts in the usual Kjartan Poskitt entertaining style, e.g.:-
'As you launch yourself into this extraordinary book, notice that arranged within the main text there are many cunningly concealed kinds of trick messages, only you don't see any just yet.
Hah! Did you spot it? No? We hate to tell you this but you have `already' read a secret message.
Yes indeed, a hidden announcement of national importance was sneaked into that first sentence!
It uses one of the easiest sorts of codes, but don't worry if you didn't see it as we'll explain it soon............'
Black and white illustrations/cartoons throughout.
Maths as you have never seen it before!
Each of the books in this series is dedicated to a particular branch of mathematics - in this case, we have `cryptanalysis'.
'Is maths making you miserable?
Are you confused by ciphers and baffled by binary?
Let 'Murderous Maths' take the agony out of cryptanalysis and you'll be a code-cracking genius in no time.
The Pure Mathematicians explain how a computer can make buying shoes safe and the secrets of ENIGMA are revealed.
Plus, find out Dolly Snowlips' waist size and a tatty tablecloth can help the Gangsters with their latest money-making scheme.'
The colourful, humorous cover opens to 160 pages, split over 11 chapters:-
A sneaky start
Disguised messages
Scrambling codes
Substitution codes
One-time pads
Grid codes
The Enigma machine
Number messages
Pig pens
Double codes
The uncrackable credit card code
written in a variety of fonts in the usual Kjartan Poskitt entertaining style, e.g.:-
'As you launch yourself into this extraordinary book, notice that arranged within the main text there are many cunningly concealed kinds of trick messages, only you don't see any just yet.
Hah! Did you spot it? No? We hate to tell you this but you have `already' read a secret message.
Yes indeed, a hidden announcement of national importance was sneaked into that first sentence!
It uses one of the easiest sorts of codes, but don't worry if you didn't see it as we'll explain it soon............'
Black and white illustrations/cartoons throughout.
Maths as you have never seen it before!
Format:Paperback
I bought this book to use with the children I work with in a local Primary school. They were fascinated with the history of encipherment and de-cryption and really enjoyed cracking codes and creating their own. This book was especially useful when we were studying the Second World War as our topic.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Wicked funny
9 Jan 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is perfect for late elementary and middle school kids who are in that stage of their life where they are dying to communicate secretly. It is full of very practical ideas - and no, not at all about math, no siree, no math here - fun, and mind-stretching. I'm only sad that I didn't find it hidden in my school library as a child.
You can just read through it and have a nice experience. But, to fully experience it, you'll have to put some effort in to wrap your mind around all the coded messages.
It also works in some computer technology, like AND/OR/NAND/NOR/XOR gates, and how an XOR gate is able to add two binary numbers and gives you the beginnings of computer based-cryptography systems and why you can safely send a credit card over the internet to boot.
The mix of narratives, cartoons, and explanatory sections is ideal for a young (or young at heart) self-directed learner. The text does a great job of introducing each idea at multiple levels of rigor: there's enough information to really get a handle on the basic mathematics, but it's breezy enough that you can pass over the rigor and still get the flavor of codes and cryptography.
I enjoyed it as an adult and it would be an excellent choice for someone of any age.
You can just read through it and have a nice experience. But, to fully experience it, you'll have to put some effort in to wrap your mind around all the coded messages.
It also works in some computer technology, like AND/OR/NAND/NOR/XOR gates, and how an XOR gate is able to add two binary numbers and gives you the beginnings of computer based-cryptography systems and why you can safely send a credit card over the internet to boot.
The mix of narratives, cartoons, and explanatory sections is ideal for a young (or young at heart) self-directed learner. The text does a great job of introducing each idea at multiple levels of rigor: there's enough information to really get a handle on the basic mathematics, but it's breezy enough that you can pass over the rigor and still get the flavor of codes and cryptography.
I enjoyed it as an adult and it would be an excellent choice for someone of any age.
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