Number Freak: From 1 to 200- The Hidden Language of Numbers Revealed

<b>A compulsively readable look at the secret language of numbers- their role in nature, movies, science, and everything in between.</b><br><br> What do <i>Fight Club</i>, wallpaper patterns, George Balanchine's <i>Serenade</i>, and Italian superstitions have in common? They're all included in the entry for the number 17 in this engaging book about numbers- detailing their unique properties, patterns, appeal, history, and lore.<br><br> Author Derrick Niederman takes readers on a guided tour of the numbers 1 to 300-covering everything from basic mathematical principles to ancient unsolved theorems, from sublime theory to delightfully arcane trivia.<br><br> Illustrated with diagrams, drawings, and photographs, plus 50 challenging mathematical brainteasers (with answers) , this book will fascinate and engage readers of all levels of mathematical skill and knowledge. Includes such gems as:<br><br> ? There are 42 eyes in a deck of cards, and 42 dots on a pair of dice<br> ? In order to fill in a map so that neighboring regions never get the same color, one never needs more than four colors<br> ? Hells Angels use the number 81 in their insignia because the initials &quot;H&quot; and &quot;A&quot; are the eighth and first numbers in the alphabet respectively