Ian Stewart organises this mathematical survey through a chronological and conceptual sequence of individual numbers. The book begins with familiar counting digits and rational fractions before expanding into the complex territory of imaginary numbers, primality, and transcendental constants like pi and e. Stewart demonstrates how these figures function within specific frameworks, such as the encryption algorithms of RSA cryptography, the hexagonal packing of honeycombs, and the infinite sets defined by Georg Cantor. He explains the mechanics behind the Riemann Hypothesis and the Golden Ratio, connecting abstract numerical properties to the geometric structure of the physical universe.
This book is for students and hobbyists who want to understand the internal logic of arithmetic beyond rote calculation. Readers learn the historical origins of mathematical notation and the specific proofs that define modern number theory. By the end, the reader possesses a clear map of how different classes of numbers interact and why specific constants appear across unrelated scientific disciplines. It serves as a reference for those seeking to bridge the gap between basic school math and the sophisticated patterns used in professional physics and engineering.
- Published
- 2015
- Language
- EN
