1. Numbers save the day
GCNU 1025
HKBU GE 2014 Fall

2. Instructor: Dr. Aijun Zhang
Office: FSC 1004
Tel:
Webpage:
Textbook: Numbers Save the Day
K. H. Law, Pearson, 2012

3. Nature by Numbers

4. 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.)?

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

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

7. 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

8. Numbers in daily life

9. 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

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

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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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