The Magic Numbers A Handbook On the Power of Mathematics and How It Has Transformed Our World

Mathematics is more fun, mysterious and magical than many of us realize, and it is present in all aspects of our lives.

We certainly can’t live without it!
• Why is zero considered the most dangerous number?
• How did ancient Egyptians measure the world with just a simple stick?
• What was the basic math error that caused a NASA spacecraft to crash into Mars?
• Which language is used every day all over the world, and is purely made up of numbers?

Documentary filmmaker Hoe Yeen Nie and historian/artist David Liew take you on a quest to unlock the secret world of numbers and math, and explore how it has transformed our lives in all sorts of incredible ways. Are you ready for an amazing adventure?

The Change Makers series of books will build in children a strong sense of inquiry — to arm them with knowledge in S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) to tackle this brave new world of unknowns.

David Liew is a prolific artist/sculptor who has illustrated several bestselling book series. This series has especially enabled David to return to his history-educator roots. He also supports fellow authors and illustrators as the Regional Advisor to the Singapore Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Hoe Yeen Nie is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and TV journalist who enjoys telling stories that reveal unexpected truths about ourselves and the world we live in. Trained in the Humanities, she nonetheless has a long-held love for math and remembers “Three is the Magic Number” as a favorite childhood song. Follow her @yeennie.hoe.

1.Ready? 1, 2, 3!.............................................. 4
2.Let Me Count Thy Ways........................... 10
3.From Zero to Hero..................................... 12
4.The Amazing Numbers............................ 18
5.Measuring the World ................................ 24
6.The Age of Reason.................................... 30
7.From Ada to AI.......................................... 37
8.Numbers That Rule................................... 45
9.When Math Goes Wrong .......................... 51
10. Welcome to the Crypto Future ................ 59
My Ideas Matrix............................................... 66
Yeen’s Handbook Toolkit................................ 68
Acknowledgements ......................................... 70
About Yeen and David..................................... 71