The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers

by David G. Wells

Book Overview

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140080295
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 229 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.6" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

a modern classic of recreational math

does anyone even imagine that this little charmer pretends to be more than the wee delight that it is, and has been for decades? math, even recreational math, does expand over time; carpers can carp that this or that latest thing isn't here. but really, what IS here, page after page, will amuse and edify almost all readers.

Great for Middle and High School Students

A great supplemental tool for teachers! I had terrific fun with my 6th grade math students when reading them certain passages in this book. Many of the topics covered, such as factorials, hexidecimals, triangular numbers, pi, primes, etc. are not generally covered in the middle school very well or at all, and this book serves as a great launching tool for discussions that kids enjoy and think about long after class is over. Also, many topics go in depth and will challenge even the best high school math students and take them in many directions that traditional math education does not.

Googolplex good reasons why read this book!

Loaded with information, light-hearted and extremely well written! The book is so enjoyable that whenever you get near it you feel like grabbing it and find the vices and virtues of yet another number. And between one number and the next, one meets an entire gallery of mathematicians, mathematical terms, unsolved problems, great achievements and colossal mistakes... It's a jewel of a book - I strongly reccomend it.

Wonderful starting point to a lifetime of investigations

This book gives a summary of every interesting number known. A great way to find areas of maths to explore further and use as a stimulus to teaching. Check out his other Penguin Dictionaries, too - they make a great set.

Great characters, not much plot

This little book has been read and reread so many times by myself and my children that it is falling to bits. The trancendental numbers are full of intriguing wierdnesses. One intriguingly wierd number after another