Nice Numbers

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.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Measures
Chapter 2 Amicable Numbers
Chapter 3 Probability
Chapter 4 Fractions
Chapter 5 Time
Chapter 6 Notations
Chapter 7 Bells
Chapter 8 Primes
Chapter 9 Music
Chapter 10 Finale
Chapter 11 A Ackermann
Chapter 12 B Pascal’s Triangle
Chapter 13 C Stochastics
Chapter 14 D Polydivisibility
Chapter 15 E Groups
Chapter 16 F Rubik
Chapter 17 G Differences
Chapter 18 H Chinese Remainders
Chapter 19 J Mersenne