My Numbers My Friends

This selection of expository essays by Paulo Ribenboim should be of interest to mathematicians from all walks. Ribenboim, a highly praised author of several popular titles, writes each essay in a light and humorous language without secrets, making them thoroughly accessible to everyone with an interest in numbers. This new collection includes essays on Fibonacci numbers, prime numbers, Bernoulli numbers, and historical presentations of the main problems pertaining to elementary number theory, such as Kummers work on Fermat's last theorem.

This workbook for students changes what is often a painful "drill and kill" memorizing process into an opportunity to build a rich network of connections, patterns, thinking strategies and applications. Acquiring a solid knowledge of basic multiplication facts becomes a way to experience math as a thinking activity. In the process, students develop number-sense and discover the rich interaction of factors, prime factors, Greatest Common Factors, Least Common Multiples, preparing them for a smooth transition to fractions and algebra.

This text originated as a lecture delivered November 20, 1984, at Queen's University, in the undergraduate colloquium senes. In another colloquium lecture, my colleague Morris Orzech, who had consulted the latest edition of the Guinness Book of Records, reminded me very gently that the most "innumerate" people of the world are of a certain trible in Mato Grosso, Brazil. They do not even have a word to express the number "two" or the concept of plurality. "Yes, Morris, I'm from Brazil, but my book will contain numbers different from ·one.''' He added that the most boring 800-page book is by two Japanese mathematicians (whom I'll not name) and consists of about 16 million decimal digits of the number Te. "I assure you, Morris, that in spite of the beauty of the appar ent randomness of the decimal digits of Te, I'll be sure that my text will include also some words." And then I proceeded putting together the magic combina tion of words and numbers, which became The Book of Prime Number Records. If you have seen it, only extreme curiosity could impel you to have this one in your hands. The New Book of Prime Number Records differs little from its predecessor in the general planning. But it contains new sections and updated records.

The exposition of the classical theory of algebraic numbers is clear and thorough, and there is a large number of exercises as well as worked out numerical examples. A careful study of this book will provide a solid background to the learning of more recent topics.

'" Prime Numbers, Friends Who Give Problems is written as a trialogue, with two persons who are interested in prime numbers asking the author, Papa Paulo, intelligent questions. Starting at a very elementary level, the book advances steadily, covering all important topics of the theory of prime numbers, up to the most famous problems. The humorous conversations and the inclusion of a back-story add to the uniqueness of the book. Concepts and results are also explained with great care, making the book accessible to a wide audience. Contents:What are Prime Numbers?Division is Harder than MultiplicationAnother Paulo! Is a Dialogue of Three Possible?How Natural Numbers are Made Out of PrimesTell Me Which is the Largest Prime?Trying Hard to Find PrimesA Formula, A Formula, PleasePaulo Came with a LassoBeautiful Old Elementary ArithmeticThe Old Man Still KnowsCan You Tell Me All About Congruences?Homework CheckedTesting for Primality and FactorizationFermat Numbers are Friendly. Are They Primes?This World is PerfectUnfriendly Numbers from a Friend of Fermat''sPaying My DebtMoney and PrimesSecret MessagesNew Numbers and FunctionsPrinceps GaussGathering ForcesThe After "Math" of GaussPrimes After Dinner: Bad Dreams?Primes in Arithmetic ProgressionSelling PrimesThe Great Prime MysteriesMysteries in Sequences: More But Not AllThe End and the Beginning Readership: College students, high school teachers and beginners interested in number theory and important facts about prime numbers. "'

Age range 6+ A toddler captivated by patterns...A little boy filling his slate with numbers, rubbing them out with his elbow and starting again...A teenager solving complex maths problems...A young man matching the best minds in Cambridge. Bringing the story of brilliant mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan to children, this book follows his singular fascination with numbers!

Recalculating the GPS for the Soul takes you on an intimate mother-daughter journey of self-discovery and healing through numerotherapy and metaphysics. Andrea shares the experience of her own twenty-five-year journey integrating numerotherapy and metaphysics, and each chapter is filled with fascinating personal stories that recount her own life adventures, aha moments, and deep personal transformation in far-flung, exotic places. This unique slant on the use of numerology for self-empowerment and healing is a refreshing, uplifting, and inspiring look at how you can heal your life; let go of old, negative thought patterns and create a life that you desire; manifest the abundance and beauty in your life; and be the best that you can be.