Perfect Figures: The Lore of Numbers and How We Learned to Count - Couverture rigide

Crumpacker, Bunny

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 0312360053 ISBN 13 : 9780312360054

Editeur : Thomas Dunne Books, 2007

Synopsis

Since the beginning of civilization, numbers have been more than just a way to keep count. "Perfect Figures" tells the stories of how each number came to be and what incredible associations and superstitions have been connected to them ever since. Along the way are some of the great oddities of numbers' past such as: a time when finger-counting was a sign of intelligence (the Venerable Bede could count to a million on his hands); the medieval Algorists, who were burnt at the stake for their use of Arabic rather than Roman numerals; the Bank of England, which stubbornly kept accounts on notched wooden sticks until 1826. Filled with Crumpacker's eloquent wit and broad intelligence, "Perfect Figures" brings the history of numbers to life just as Bill Bryson did for the English language in "The Mother Tongue".

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

Since the beginning of civilisation, numbers have been more than just a way to keep count. Here are the stories of how each number came to be and what incredible associations and superstitions are connected with them, including some great oddities of numbers past: When finger counting was a mark of intelligence; Medieval Algorists being burnt at the stake for using arabic rather than Roman numerals and the Bank of England insisting that accounts were notched on wooden sticks until 1826. Filled with eloquent wit and broad intelligence this book brings the history of numbers to life.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Thomas Dunne Books
• Date d'édition: 2007
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0312360053
• ISBN 13: 9780312360054
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 272
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible