About this item
Highlights
- Inthe tradition of Fermat's Enigma and Pi, Marcus du Sautoy tells the illuminating, authoritative, and engagingstory of Bernhard Reimann and the ongoing quest tocapture the holy grail of mathematics--the formula to predict prime numbers.Oliver Sacks, author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, calls TheMusic of the Primes "an amazing book. . . .
- Author(s): Marcus Du Sautoy
- 368 Pages
- Mathematics, History & Philosophy
Description
About the Book
Inthe tradition of Fermat s Enigma and Pi, Marcus du Sautoy tells the illuminating, authoritative, and engagingstory of Bernhard Reimann and the ongoing quest tocapture the holy grail of mathematics the formula to predict prime numbers.Oliver Sacks, author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, calls TheMusic of the Primes an amazing book....I could not put it down once Ihad started. Simon Winchester, author of The Professor and the Madman, writes, this fascinating account, decoding the inscrutable language of themathematical priesthood, is written like the purest poetry. Marcus du Sautoy's enthusiasm shines through every line of this hymnto the joy of high intelligence, illuminating as it does so even the darkestcorners of his most arcane universe. "Book Synopsis
Inthe tradition of Fermat's Enigma and Pi, Marcus du Sautoy tells the illuminating, authoritative, and engagingstory of Bernhard Reimann and the ongoing quest tocapture the holy grail of mathematics--the formula to predict prime numbers.Oliver Sacks, author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, calls TheMusic of the Primes "an amazing book. . . . I could not put it down once Ihad started." Simon Winchester, author of The Professor and the Madman, writes, "this fascinating account, decoding the inscrutable language of themathematical priesthood, is written like the purest poetry. Marcus du Sautoy's enthusiasm shines through every line of this hymnto the joy of high intelligence, illuminating as it does so even the darkestcorners of his most arcane universe."From the Back Cover
In 1859, German mathematician Bernhard Riemann presented a paper to the Berlin Academy that would forever change mathematics. The subject was the mystery of prime numbers. At the heart of the presentation was an idea that Riemann had not yet proved--one that baffles mathematicians to this day.
Solving the Riemann Hypothesis could change the way we do business, since prime numbers are the lynchpin for security in banking and e-commerce. It would also have a profound impact on the cutting edge of science, affecting quantum mechanics, chaos theory, and the future of computing. Leaders in math and science are trying to crack the elusive code, and a prize of $1 million has been offered to the winner. In this engaging book, Marcus du Sautoy reveals the extraordinary history behind the holy grail of mathematics and the ongoing quest to capture it.
Review Quotes
"An amazing book! Hugely enjoyable. Du Sautoy provides a stunning journey into the wonderful world of primes." -- Oliver Sacks
"This fascinating account, decoding the inscrutable language of the mathematical priesthood, is written like the purest poetry." -- Simon Winchester, author of The Professor and the Madman
"This is a wonderful book about one of the greatest remaining mysteries in mathematics." -- Amir Aczel, author of Fermat's Last Theorem and The Riddle of the Compass
"No matter what your mathematical IQ, you will enjoy reading The Music of the Primes." -- Keith Devlin, Stanford University, author of The Millennium Problems: The Seven Greatest Unsolved Mathematical Puzzles of Our Time
"Exceptional. ... A book that will draw readers normally indifferent to the subject deep into the adventure of mathematics." -- Booklist (starred review)
"[A] lively history. . . . A must for math buffs." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Fascinating." -- Washington Post Book World