This book provides an overview of many interesting properties of natural numbers demonstrating
their applications in areas such as cryptography geometry astronomy mechanics computer
science and recreational mathematics. In particular it presents the main ideas of
error-detecting and error-correcting codes digital signatures hashing functions generators
of pseudorandom numbers and the RSA method based on large prime numbers. A diverse array of
topics is covered from the properties and applications of prime numbers some surprising
connections between number theory and graph theory pseudoprimes Fibonacci and Lucas numbers
and the construction of Magic and Latin squares to the mathematics behind Prague's
astronomical clock. Introducing a general mathematical audience to some of the basic ideas and
algebraic methods connected with various types of natural numbers the book will provide
invaluable reading for amateurs and professionals alike.
