Computing

xiii

Preface

Have you ever wondered why the way we count diers greatly from the

way modern-day electronic computers do? Or why there are 24 hours

in a day, 60 minutes in an hour, etc.? How about who invented numbers

and when they were invented, as well as why there are dierent kinds of

numbers. Did you know that secret writings and cryptography date back

to ancient civilizations? You will nd the answers to these questions, and

many more, in just the rst few chapters of this book.

e primary purpose of this book is to serve as a supplementary text-

book for a mid- to upper-level university undergraduate course oered to

science and engineeri ...