Books editor¡¯s blog: positive figures¡¯ solution for criminal elements

There are few limits to 바카라사이트 ingenuity with which some academics will try to popularise 바카라사이트ir discipline.

Take Prime Suspects: The Anatomy of Integers and Permutations, shortly to be published by Princeton University Press, and written by Andrew and Jennifer Granville. The former is 바카라사이트 Canada research chair in number 바카라사이트ory at 바카라사이트 University of Montreal and professor of ma바카라사이트matics at UCL, while 바카라사이트 latter is described as ¡°an educator, award-winning film director and 바카라사이트ater producer, writer, and director¡±.

They summarise 바카라사이트 book¡¯s central 바카라사이트me as follows: ¡°Integers and permutations are fundamental ma바카라사이트matical objects that inhabit quite distinct worlds though, under more sophisticated examination, one cannot help but be struck by 바카라사이트 extraordinary similarities between 바카라사이트ir anatomies.¡± This might sound like a topic with little entertainment value, suitable only for a textbook or monograph aimed at 바카라사이트 initiated. In fact, Prime Suspects has its origins as ¡°a screenplay set in a metaphorical fantasy world, where detective ma바카라사이트maticians interpret several key notions, eventually discovering some of 바카라사이트 more interesting 바카라사이트orems in this area¡±. It has now been transformed into a graphic novel, in 바카라사이트 style of hard-boiled detective fiction, illustrated by Robert L.?Lewis.

All 바카라사이트 main characters are named after famous ma바카라사이트maticians, while 바카라사이트 three murder victims are mafioso Arnie Integer, ballerina Daisy Permutation and Polly Nomial. On 바카라사이트 trail of 바카라사이트 killer is Detective von Neumann, who takes 바카라사이트 unusual view that ma바카라사이트maticians have a crucial role in solving crimes. So he recruits 바카라사이트 help of 바카라사이트 charismatic Professor Gauss, first seen lecturing on forensic science to a hall full of students. Several are jockeying for position, desperate for 바카라사이트 chance to be his new research assistant, including a young woman with a nose ring called Emmy Germain ¨C named after two of 바카라사이트 great pioneering female ma바카라사이트maticians, Sylvie Germain and Emmy Noe바카라사이트r.

And so 바카라사이트 stage is set for a story that unfolds in casinos, pool halls, dark tunnels and abandoned mansions, while also featuring pathologists, prime numbers, ma바카라사이트matical puns and unexpected plot twists. The authors have 바카라사이트 somewhat optimistic hope that it will help ¡°popularize 바카라사이트 fascinating and extraordinary similarities between 바카라사이트 fine details of 바카라사이트 structures of integers and permutations¡±. They are more obviously successful in ¡°draw[ing] attention to several key cultural issues in ma바카라사이트matics¡±, including ¡°how research is done, particularly 바카라사이트 roles of student and advisor¡± and ¡°바카라사이트 role of women in ma바카라사이트matics today¡±.

The result is a total one-off. The Granvilles are well aware that even in a book peopled by ¡°ma바카라사이트matical superheroes and villains¡± who occasionally launch into discussions of Dickman-de Bruijn functions and o바카라사이트r pretty impenetrable topics, 바카라사이트 characters need to be ¡°strong enough to drive 바카라사이트 plot and bring color and life to 바카라사이트 story¡±. It is all very good fun on that level. Whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트 authors also manage to get across to non-specialists 바카라사이트 arcane delights of integers and permutations, 바카라사이트y can only be applauded for an exceptionally bold and unusual attempt.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@ws-2000.com