The Magic Numbers: A handbook on the power of Mathematics and how it has transformed our world

Book excerpt: Mathematics is more fun, mysterious and magical than many of us realise, 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 math error that caused a NASA rocket to blow up? 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.