内容简介
AndrewHodges,oneofBritainsleadingbiographersandmathematicalwriters,bringsnumberstothree-dimensionallifeinthisdelightfulandilluminatingvolume,filledwithillustrations,whichmakeseventhemostchallengingmathproblemsaccessibletothelayperson.Inspiredbymillenniaofhumanattemptstofigurethingsout,thispithybook,whichtacklesmathematicalconundrumsfromtheancientGreekstosuperstringtheory,findsanewtwisttoeverythingfrommusicalharmonytocodebreaking,fromthechemistryofsunflowerstothemysteryofmagicsquares.Startingwiththepuzzleofdefiningunity,andendingwiththerecurringninesofinfinitedecimals,Hodgestellsastorythattakesinquantumphysics,cosmology,climatechange,andtheoriginofthecomputer.Hodgeshaswrittenaclassicwork,atonceplayfulbutsatisfyinglyinstructional,whichwillbeidealforthemathaficionadoandtheSudokuaddictaswellasforthelifeoftheparty.
作者简介
AndrewHodgesisbestknownastheauthorofAlanTuring:TheEnigma,thestoryoftheextraordinaryBritishcomputerpioneerandcodebreaker,describedbytheNewYorkeras`oneofthefinestscientificbiographieseverwritten'.Heisalsoactiveinresearchintofundamentalphysics,acolleagueofRogerPenrose,andaFellowofWadhamCollege,OxfordUniversity.--ThistextreferstothePaperbackedition.