Computers have recently brought binary numbers into the public eye, but they have been important to mathematicians for a long, long time before then.

Thousands of years ago the man who invented the game of chess knew how quickly the doubling numbers in the binary-number sequence grow. This book tells how he used his knowledge to ask for a great reward for his invention.

The book also shows the reader how to write numbers in the binary-number sequence and how to write binary numerals themselves. Once the young mathematician learns these principles, he or she will begin to understand how computers can work—and also will be able to write messages in a secret binary numeral code.

From the book