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"Mathematical Mysteries: The Beauty and Magic of Numbers" by Calvin C. Clawson
An excellent title going through equations and theorems that made disciplines, like Number Theory, what it is today.
If you thought numbers are just "symbols" that represent quantities, you'll find there's more to them than meets the eye...and mind. Author Calvin Clawson wrote, what we think, is another impressive title on numbers, what they're capable of—besides counting—and the kinds of other numbers they yield. We assure you that after reading this, you'll want to study more about Number Theory after Clawson provided so many examples of numbers being crunched and created to make the theorems and equations we know today.
As with most books, Clawson gives an "arithmetical" view of numbers and how we came to count. While, yes, the need to quantify one's income, stock, and transactions were the reason a system was needed to properly complete these tasks in a fair and honest way. Makes you wonder: Was Mathematics created or discovered? Anyway, you get a gentle and general welcome to the beauty that is numbers, and while equations and theorems are introduced, it shouldn't overwhelm the reader. These first few chapters have Clawson sometimes veer off too deep into the topic at hand but gets back to the main point of the chapter. However, we must mention Chapter 02 - Numbers and the Occult as Clawson mentions Gematria. What's that? The art of assigning and converting words into numbers, and because of the "quiet" rise in conspiracy theories, there are those that swear that world events happening today are rooted and governed by Gematria. Whether it's a true thing or not is up to the person searching about it, but let's digress. Along the way, Clawson introduces many mathematicians that contributed to the art and what calculations they've made that got us where we are today. Many of these names, like John Napier the inventor of logarithms, the reader may not be familiar with but will develop high respects for their findings. Sure, these names may be not be as famous as Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton or Blaise Pascal, but readers will get a feel for their workings and what led them to create such a system. This ought to tell aspiring mathematicians one thing: Big or small, a contribution is still a contribution!
If you're the type to enjoy number-based games, like Sudoku, then Chapters 7, 8 and 9 are something you'll enjoy as those three talk about prime numbers. These were the chapters that made us very excited and curious about Number Theory, and because of its usage in cryptography, readers will feel the same curiosity diving more into the subject after finishing this book. As mentioned earlier, we not only added names to these numbers, but we have systems that has created numbers so large, even the atoms in the Universe are quantitatively small in comparison! We've basically maximized the number of numbers in our existence, though that wouldn't stop math enthusiasts, mathematicians, computer scientists and number theorists from pushing the limits further. In the case you don't believe us, look up Tetration. Once you learn it, you'll realize quickly how large numbers can get—makes exponents look like nothing.
Perhaps one of the most respected, yet underrated, contributors to mathematics has to be none other than Srinivasa Ramanujan Iyengar, so simply Ramanujan. While he did collaborate with other respected names like G.H. Hardy and John Littlewood, the poor man only lived until the age of 32, yet Ramanujan's papers never survived as we may never know much more of his theorems, laws and other mathematical discoveries he has done. We thought it was great that Clawson made mention of him, not because of the numerical conjecture he has able to prove during his life, but was able to know puzzling answers to the infinite radical, for instance.
"When we comprehend some of Ramanujan's equations, we realize that he was a true artist, expressing deep and beautiful mathematical truths in familar symbols." — Clawson, Chapter 10 - The Remarkable Ramanujan, pages 209-210Couldn't have said it better myself.
The book then closes with Christian Goldbach and Goldbach's Numbers along with mentions of Georg Friedrich Bernard Riemann (we're sure you've heard of his famous hypothesis).
The writing style is very conversational and easy to read. The best part was Clawson reiterating and recalling former points mentioned in earlier chapters to refresh the reader's mind which I find to be a huge plus. It's like he's not only talking about the topic, but also teaching it in a way making sure that readers understand. When was the last book you read that an author did such thing? That, alone, made us love this book instantly.
Right up there with Peter Bentley's The Book of Numbers, this is a remarkable book talking about the beauty behind numbers, its workings and the amazing mathematicians who shared their theorems and inventions with the world. This book made us very excited about all things numbers, its theory and applications. We love this book a lot and highly recommend it!
- Writing style is very conversational with some reiterations, making sure the reader understands.
- Great touch-up on topics ranging from number history, prime numbers and the mathematicians who contributed.
- Very inspiring and encouraging to do more research and studies into Math History and Number Theory.
- None.
Fan Rating
PROFILE |
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| Title | Mathematical Mysteries: The Beauty and Magic of Numbers |
| Author(s) | Calvin C. Clawson |
| Description | CALVIN CLAWSON ASSERTS THAT IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE ARE STRUCK BY THE BEAUTY OF A GREAT WORK OF ART, OUR BRAINS ARE SINGULARLY ATTUNED TO COMPREHENDING AND FINDING PLEASURE IN DEEP MATHEMATICAL TRUTHS. CLAWSON LETS NUMBERS SING THEIR SIREN SONG BY CONFERRING ON US THE SENSIBILITY TO GRASP THEIR MEANING. ANY OF US, RECALLING ONLY THE BASICS OF HIGH SCHOOL ALGEBRA, CAN FOLLOW CLAWSON INTO THE HEART OF MATHEMATICS. THERE WE LEARN TO APPRECIATE THE WONDER, AS GREAT MATHEMATICIANS HAVE THROUGH THE AGES, OF THE UNEXPLAINABLE SYMMETRY, BEAUTY, AND INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF NUMBERS. THE MYSTERY OF NUMBERS LIES IN A BEWILDERING PARADOX: IF NUMBERS ARE PURELY OBJECTS OF HUMAN THOUGHT, THENY WHY DO THEY CORRESPOND SO STRIKINGLY TO THE PHYSICAL UNIVERSE? INDEED, AS CLAWSON EXPLAINS, THE STORY OF MATHEMATICS COMPRISES NEAR-MYSTICAL EXPRESSIONS THAT ELEGANTLY CONNECT THE MOST IMPORTANT MATHEMATICAL TRUTHS. FURTHER MYSTERIES ABOUND: HOW CAN A SIMPLE, FAMILIAR EQUATION, WHEN GRAPHED, BE TRANSFORMED INTO A STUNNINGLY COMPLEX AND BEAUTIFUL FRACTAL? WHY HAVE QUESTIONS POSED BY THE ANCIENT GREEKS REMAINED BEYOND PROOF BY EVEN THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST OR OUR CENTURY? HOW CAN WE HUMANS, AS LIMITED AND FINITE BEINGS, PLAY WITH AND DISCOVER THE INFINITE? THIS BOOK CUTS TO THE SOUL OF WHAT DRIVES MATHEMATICIANS ON LIFELONG PILGRAMAGES OF DISCOVERY—AND STAYS IN TOUCH WITH THE WONDER AT THE CORE OF THE PURSUIT. |
| Dedication | "To my best friend and wife, Susan" |
| ISBN | 978-0-7382-0259-4 / 0-7382-9259-2 |
| Book Dimensions | Width: 5.5″ (5 ½″) |
| Height: 8.31″ (8 5/16″) | |
| Depth: 0.75″ (¾″) | |
| Page Count | 324 |
| Contents | Introduction, CHAPTER 1 Discovery of the Number Sequence, CHAPTER 2 Numbers and the Occult, CHAPTER 3 Sequences and Series, CHAPTER 4 The Family of Numbers, CHAPTER 5 Story for a Rich Man, CHAPTER 6 Exotic Connections, CHAPTER 7 Closing in on the Primes, CHAPTER 8 Primes in Depth, CHAPTER 9 Primes and Secret Codes, CHAPTER 10 The Remarkable Ramanujan, CHAPTER 11 Ramanunjan's Equations, CHAPTER 12 Goldbach's Conjecture, CHAPTER 13 Deepest Mysteries, CHAPTER 14 Into the Stratosphere, End Notes, Suggested Reading, Index |
| Author Photograph | -- |
| Cover Design | Resa Blatman |
| Published | January 1, 1996 |
| Publisher | Basic Books (www.basicbooks.com). |
| Printed in | United States of America |
| Copyright | © 1996 by Calvin C. Clawson |
| Book Format | Paperback |
| Quoted Reviews | "A writer in love with his subject, Clawson offers the perfect antidote to the phobias and misconceptions surrounding mathematics. Teasing one marvel after another from simple formulas, he reveals the splendors of a subject too often avoided as drudgery or ordeal." — Booklist "Clawson writes exceptionally well." — Choice |
| Best Seller's List | -- |
| Other | Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and where Basic Books was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in initial capital letters. Copyright © 1996 by Calvin C. Clawson Previously published by Perseus Publishing Pubished [sic] by Basic Books, A Member of the Perseus Books Group Find us on the World Wide Web at http://www.basicbooks.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America. Book published by Basic Books are available at special discounts for bulk purchases in the United States by corporations, institutions, and other organizations. For more information, please contact the Special Markets Department at the Perseus Books Group, 11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, or call (617) 252-5298 or (800) 255-1514, or e-mail special.markets@perseusbooks.com. Calvin C. Clawson IS THE AUTHOR OF MATHEMATICAL SORCERY, THE MATHEMATICAL TRAVELER, AND CONQUERING MATH PHOBIA. HE HAS PUBLISHEDOVER TWO DOZEN SHORT STORIES AND WON AWARDS FOR HIS BOOKS FROM CHOICE AND THE NATIONAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION. A TEACHER OF MATHEMATICS AT SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, HE LIVE SOUTH OF ISSAQUAH, WASHINGTON. |
| Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data |
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| -- | |
| CIP Number | 99-066854 |
| LC Control Number | -- |
| LC Call Number | -- |
| DDC Call Number | -- |
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