Number Story, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2008 From Counting to Cryptography

Peter Higgins distills centuries of work into one delightful narrative that celebrates the mystery of numbers and explains how different kinds of numbers arose and why they are useful. Full of historical snippets and interesting examples, the book ranges from simple number puzzles and magic tricks, to showing how ideas about numbers relate to real-world problems. This fascinating book will inspire and entertain readers across a range of abilities. Easy material is blended with more challenging ideas. As our understanding of numbers continues to evolve, this book invites us to rediscover the mystery and beauty of numbers.

Peter Higgins is a Professor of Mathematics at Essex University and inventor of Circular Sudoku. His previous books on mathematics include Mathematics for the Curious, Mathematics for the Imagination, and Nets, Puzzles and Postmen: An Exploration of Mathematical Connections.

Written by the author of Mathematics for the Curious and Mathematics for the Imagination and inventor of Circular Sudoku

An accessible look at the history and development of numbers written in an easy-to-read style, covering topics from popular subjects such as chance and probability, and codes and cryptography

Will appeal to readers across a range of abilities: the use of recreational puzzles and real-world examples both stimulate and entertain, while a final chapter provides the mathematical detail for those who would like to know more

Ideal background reading for high-school students interested in studying mathematics at university, and an invaluable source of material for school teachers and lecturers