There is magic in numbers. Long ago, some of the earliest human civilizations discovered the strange and fascinating quality of some numbers and incorporated them into their superstitions and religions. Numbers have entranced people ever since. They still hold the power to unlock the universe for us, through providing a key to the secrets of science. Beginning with simple counting, humankind has built the extraordinary edifice of modern mathematics and made it central to our civilizations. The strange properties of numbers have given them mystical and religious significance and captivated mathematicians for thousands of years. The deeper we delve into numbers, the more surprises and enigmas we discover. In this beautifully illustrated book, author Anne Rooney weaves strands from every age and culture into a compelling narrative which tells the story of how numbers have come to shape our lives. Topics include: • The Ancient Egyptians and geometry • The movement of the planets • Algebra, solid geometry, and the trigonometric tables • The first computers • How statistics came to rule our finances • Impossible shapes and extra dimensions • Measuring and mapping the world • Chaos theory and fuzzy logic • Set theory and the death of numbers.
