This dictionary of numbers, arranged in order of magnitude, exposes the fascinating facts about certain numbers and number sequences. The aim of the book is to entertain and enthral the reader, which it certainly does.
The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers
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About the Author
DAVID WELLS has written extensively on problems and popular mathematics, and many of his titles are available in Penguin. He is involved in education through writing and research, and lives in this country.
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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40 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In the foreword to G.H. Hardy's book A Mathematician's Apology, C.P. Snow tells an anecdote about Hardy and his collaborator Srinavasa Ramanujan. Hardy, perhaps the greatest number theorist of 20th century, took a taxi from London to the hospital at Putney where Ramanujan was dying of tuberculosis, Hardy noticed its number, 1729. Always inept about introducing a conversation, he entered the room where Ramanujan was lying in bed and, with scarcely a hello, blurted out his opinion about the taxi-cab number. It was, he declared, "rather a dull number," adding that he hoped that wasn't a bad omen. "No, Hardy! No, Hardy," said Ramanujan, "it is a very interesting number. It is the smallest number expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways."
Usually it takes a great deal of insight as well as considerable mathematical training to discover a yet unknown properties of some number. Only recognizing the beauty of a number pattern is much easier, though, especially with a friendly book like this one on hand. Wells, a long-time mathematics popularizer, has collected over 1000 numbers he considers interesting. Each of them is given a short explanation, often accompanied with a bibliographic reference. Celebrities among the numbers, like i, e or Pi, are given a more comprehensive treatment. Included are also several sequences, like Fibonacci's, Mersenne's, Fermat's, Carmichael's or Kaprekar's, each accompanied with its explanation. So are cyclic, amicable, untouchable or lucky numbers, and many more sequences you probably didn't know about.
While Wells' dictionary certainly gives the impression of a well-researched work, the list of numbers is by no means exhaustive. Anyone familiar with chaos theory will notice the absence of Feigenbaum constant; prime hunters would probably be interested in discussion on Woodall primes, Sophie-Germain primes, or Proth primes. But they are better off with Paulo Ribenboim's book on primes, anyway, while Wells' book, with its easily understandable explanations and accessible price is probably more suited for the "recreational mathematics" audience.
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By S. Powell
Format:Paperback
David Wells has assembled an unique and readable collection of facts about numbers, arranged in numerical order! Entries are fascinating, for the most part, though they can be frustrating, too. For example, when first encountering the notion of automorphic numbers (numbers whose squares end in the same digits as the original number), it is tempting to discover if there are other related entries -- 'trimorphic numbers', for instance? It is possible to track these down using the small index provided and quite fun to do.
Unlike other dictionaries this is best read from front to back though it can be used as a reference, once one is familiar with it.
Many concepts are briefly explained as they are encountered, and some merely referred to in passing, and the frustration here is that there need not be full information in the text. However, this is most enjoyably resolved by brushing up one's own skills and trying to demonstrate the simpler claims for oneself. There is plenty here for the dabbling amateur to try, though the serious mathematician can also enjoy the book.
I have one qualification: David Wells identifies 51 as the least uninteresting number (no, not a contradiction: it is simultaneously interesting and uninteresting, he claims) -- because he cannot find an interesting fact about it. He fails to notice that it is the fourth trimorphic (and non-automorphic) number: 4, 9, 49, 51 and 75 being the first five cases. This means that it is mildly more interesting than at first supposed.
I look forward to a revised edition -- with readers' contributions and comments.
Unlike other dictionaries this is best read from front to back though it can be used as a reference, once one is familiar with it.
Many concepts are briefly explained as they are encountered, and some merely referred to in passing, and the frustration here is that there need not be full information in the text. However, this is most enjoyably resolved by brushing up one's own skills and trying to demonstrate the simpler claims for oneself. There is plenty here for the dabbling amateur to try, though the serious mathematician can also enjoy the book.
I have one qualification: David Wells identifies 51 as the least uninteresting number (no, not a contradiction: it is simultaneously interesting and uninteresting, he claims) -- because he cannot find an interesting fact about it. He fails to notice that it is the fourth trimorphic (and non-automorphic) number: 4, 9, 49, 51 and 75 being the first five cases. This means that it is mildly more interesting than at first supposed.
I look forward to a revised edition -- with readers' contributions and comments.
23 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Books which are great for dipping into for a few minutes take pride of place in the loo - this one included. It is just tremendous - full of interesting stuff for any geeks who like numbers and maths. You'll come back to this book time and time again - the loo becomes a more inviting place with this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Figure fascination
Curious and Interesting is right. If numbers grab you, this needs to be on your bookshelf. There is some deep mathematics, but you can either revel or skip it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by M H SHAW
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting and readable maths
Each number has a unique and interesting story. There are more to find out about numbers in this book.
Published on 22 Dec 2009 by Mr. H. Li
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bit of a guilty pleasure
A book basically consisting of a list of numbers and their interesting properties can only appeal to a very small percentage of readers, but those readers will love it to the... Read more
Published on 21 Dec 2008 by M. Appleton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bedside reading
This is the kind of thing you read before going to bed, especially if you have a geeky gene. The pseudo-victorian title alone is lovable, although the book itself is a bit... Read more
Published on 30 Nov 2000 by Mr. A. Pomeroy
2.0 out of 5 stars
FAIR
Although this book contained some truely interesting numbers, it seemed as if some properties had been forced upon numbers which did not have anything greatly enchanting about... Read more
Published on 23 July 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must buy for all who like numbers
I borrowed this from the library, 2 days later I bought it. I had to have it so I could annotate it to remember all the new and interesting facts it contained. Read more
Published on 12 May 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure Brilliance
This book has an interesting comment on every curious or interesting number you can think of. Pure Brilliance. Read more
Published on 12 April 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful.
If you are at all interested in maths or numbers, this book is a must. It lurks dangerously on the bookshelf and if you are tempted to dip in for a few minutes or to find... Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2000
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