Prime Numbers: The Most Mysterious Figures in Math

by David G. Wells

Book Overview

A fascinating journey into the mind-bending world of prime numbers
Cicadas of the genus Magicicada appear once every 7, 13, or 17 years. Is it just a coincidence that these are all prime numbers? How do twin primes differ from cousin primes, and what on earth (or in the mind of a mathematician) could be sexy about prime numbers? What did Albert Wilansky find so fascinating about his brother-in-law's phone number?
Mathematicians have been asking...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471462349
• ISBN13: 9780471462347
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Trade Paper Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.17 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.5" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Math Book "Prime Numbers"

Very good book. I'm not a math pro, but I found it very interesting.

Mathematics for senior citizaens

I do not have much of a mathematical background and I am 75. I was able to work my way straight through this book. I don't pretend to have understood some parts of it but the many parts I did understand were enthralling. I was able to read it straight through, albeit it slowly, and my interest never flagged. Thanks.

Reviewing the numbers!

Haven't read through the entire book yet but so far there are a lot of theorem equations I've never heard before that are very interesting to consider. I've been trying to find my own way to find any possible prime number and this book is very helpful in showing you whats already been done and could influence you to maybe think of an equation or method yourself (for finding prime numbers that is). Other than that. I don't have too much detailed information on this book yet.

A Mathematical Comedy

This book is a mathematical comedy. For most of us prime numbers have no value beyond a bit of curiosity -- if you're into cryptology of course then you're looking at a horse of an entirely different color. Prime numbers have been thought about, played with, studied, been the subject of prizes. The Clay prizes were offered on May 24, 2000. They offer a million dollars (yes, $1,000,000) for the solution to each of seven problems. Of course the first problem is the Riemann hypothesis, which people have been trying to solve for about a hundred and fifty years. This book is light and entertaining. As I said, almost a comedy. For instance Cicadas of the genus Magicidada (an insect) appear once every 7, 13, or 17 years -- all prime numbers -- why? An entertaining book for the mathematician.

Prime time

As ever David Wells has written a most fascinating and highly enjoyable book. Anyone au fait with any of Mr Wells other works will know them to be of the "pop" maths book style, Mr Wells being one of the great expositors of this gendre, bringing deep concepts and a full knowledge of his topic to a wide audience, always with a great sense of humour and fun. Here David Wells has written a fascinating and intellectual book on primes; primes are the key to the number system and are as mysterious and fascinating as the cover suggests. In Wells inimitable style, always delighting us with the history of his subject and treating us to some new tricks up his sleeve, we are whizzed through a dictionary of prime facts and conclusions and non-conclusions (it's a book about primes), the subject is vast, and Wells flys through the matters of the primes in number theory in a readable and thorough listing of those facts he illustrates. Buy Primes, I know you'll love it as much as I did.