Numbers save the day GCNU 1025 HKBU GE 2014 Fall

Instructor: Dr. Aijun Zhang Office: FSC 1004 Tel: 3411 6665 Email: ajzhang@hkbu.edu.hk Webpage: www.math.hkbu.edu.hk/~ajzhang/   Textbook: Numbers Save the Day K. H. Law, Pearson, 2012

Nature by Numbers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkGeOWYOFoA

Numbers in daily life Are there any numbers that can represent you? Are there any numbers that can represent some of your belongings (smartphones, tablets, etc.)?

Numbers in daily life Student ID number HKID number Mobile phone number (?) Serial numbers

Numbers in daily life Question: what are the uses of numbers in daily life? Answer #1: numbers can be used for identification purpose

Numbers in daily life Question: what are the uses of numbers in daily life? Answer #2: numbers can be used for error-checking due to its computability

Numbers in daily life

Course Outline Ch1: Numbers in our Pockets Ch2: Numbers in Codes Numbers for identification Numbers for error-checking Barcode Ch2: Numbers in Codes Binary codes Coding and errors detection Data transmission

Course Outline Ch3: Numbers on the Internet Internet security Simple cryptography

Course Outline Ch4: Numbers in Images Image storage Image processing Fractals

Course Outline Ch5: Numbers in Nature and Life Paper size Music Important numbers

Assessment 4 in-class assignments: 40% (penalty for late in-class assignments) Midterm test: 20% (closed book; ~week 7, subject to change) Final examination: 40% No attendance for the moment

Teaching/learning materials Outline of PowerPoint Textbook (followed closely) Classwork (not part of assessment) In-class assignments (important) Mid-term test (important) On-line quizzes (not part of assessment) Discussion groups in the Library starting from mid-term week (not part of assessment) Materials will be posted online via To be announced

Course Intended Learning Outcomes Identify connections between relevant mathematical notations and other disciplines Explain the applications of elementary number theory in today’s information systems Identify mathematics and skills underpinning the digital world Analyze and compare the structures of sequences, and relate them to daily phenomena