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A Symmetrical Notation for Numbers [typescript carbon PLUS final offprint]
by Shannon, Claude E. [Elwood]
- Used
- very good
- Condition
- Very Good
- Seller
-
Topsfield, Massachusetts, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
New York City: Bell Telephone Laboratories, [no date stated]. Wraps. Very Good. [1]-5 pages. 10 7/8 x 8 3/8 inches. Typescript carbon on thin paper printed recto only. Paperclip affixed upper left with older rust stains visible.
Provided WITH the final paper in offprint form:
90-93 pages. 10 x 7 1/8 inches. Publisher's original printed blue wrappers. Stapled. Wraps. First published in American Mathematical Monthly, Vol 57, (Feb. 1950), pp 90-93. Offered here is an undated typescript carbon of that paper.
While we don't understand the mathematics here, one comment is fun: "If we were using this notation, department stores would find it much more difficult to camouflage the price of goods with $.98 labels." The typescript carbon in Shannon's files finishes there. But the final paper [ as offered here ] includes additional material, including a final paragraph explaining one reason for this notation:
"Symmetrical notation offers attractive possibilities for general-purpose computing machines of the electronic or relay types. In these machines, it is possible to perform the calculations in any desired scale and only translate to the scale ten at input and output. The use of asymmetrical notation simplifies many of the circuits required to take care of signs in addition and subtraction, and to properly round off numbers." (p.93)
"At the close of the decade, the [American Mathematical] Monthly published a beautiful, long paper by Andre Weil called the Future of Mathematics. It also published a short note in computer science by Claude Shannon called "A Symmetrical Notation for Numbers." Both papers foretold the future of mathematics." (Ewing, p. 134)
PROVENANCE: The personal files of Claude E. Shannon (unmarked). One of four typescript carbons of this paper from Shannon's files.
REFERENCES:
Sloane and Wyner, "Claude Elwood Shannon Collected Papers," #57
Shannon, Claude E., "A Symmetrical Notation for Numbers" in American Mathematical Monthly, Vol 57, (Feb. 1950), pp 90-93.
Ewing, John H., "A Century of Mathematics : Through the Eyes of the Monthly", p.134, 201-204.
Provided WITH the final paper in offprint form:
90-93 pages. 10 x 7 1/8 inches. Publisher's original printed blue wrappers. Stapled. Wraps. First published in American Mathematical Monthly, Vol 57, (Feb. 1950), pp 90-93. Offered here is an undated typescript carbon of that paper.
While we don't understand the mathematics here, one comment is fun: "If we were using this notation, department stores would find it much more difficult to camouflage the price of goods with $.98 labels." The typescript carbon in Shannon's files finishes there. But the final paper [ as offered here ] includes additional material, including a final paragraph explaining one reason for this notation:
"Symmetrical notation offers attractive possibilities for general-purpose computing machines of the electronic or relay types. In these machines, it is possible to perform the calculations in any desired scale and only translate to the scale ten at input and output. The use of asymmetrical notation simplifies many of the circuits required to take care of signs in addition and subtraction, and to properly round off numbers." (p.93)
"At the close of the decade, the [American Mathematical] Monthly published a beautiful, long paper by Andre Weil called the Future of Mathematics. It also published a short note in computer science by Claude Shannon called "A Symmetrical Notation for Numbers." Both papers foretold the future of mathematics." (Ewing, p. 134)
PROVENANCE: The personal files of Claude E. Shannon (unmarked). One of four typescript carbons of this paper from Shannon's files.
REFERENCES:
Sloane and Wyner, "Claude Elwood Shannon Collected Papers," #57
Shannon, Claude E., "A Symmetrical Notation for Numbers" in American Mathematical Monthly, Vol 57, (Feb. 1950), pp 90-93.
Ewing, John H., "A Century of Mathematics : Through the Eyes of the Monthly", p.134, 201-204.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Kuenzig Books
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 28668
- Title
- A Symmetrical Notation for Numbers [typescript carbon PLUS final offprint]
- Author
- Shannon, Claude E. [Elwood]
- Format/Binding
- Wraps
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- Bell Telephone Laboratories
- Place of Publication
- New York City
- Date Published
- [no date stated]
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
- Keywords
- BIBLIO-LIVE-1 ABAA-RBMS-2022
Terms of Sale
Kuenzig Books
Reserved items are held for 7 days pending receipt of payment. Reservations may be made by phone or email. Please identify the author, title, and stock number of the item. We accept wire transfers, checks and money orders drawn on U.S. banks in U.S. dollars. We also accept Paypal and American Express, Mastercard, VISA and Discover cards. Our Guarantee: All purchases are returnable within 30 days IF NOT AS DESCRIBED, presuming they are received in the same condition as sent. Please insure return shipments, and contact us in advance in order to make appropriate arrangements.
About the Seller
Kuenzig Books
Biblio member since 2008
Topsfield, Massachusetts
About Kuenzig Books
Kuenzig Books specializes in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). We handle ephemera and artifacts including early computer material, the history of communications, and other innovations that have affected the way we live and work. We also deal in scientific instruments (didactic and professional), a broad range of documentary photography and ephemera, and other eclectic material as luck and interest provides.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...
- Recto
- The page on the right side of a book, with the term Verso used to describe the page on the left side.
- Offprint
- A copy of an article or reference material that once appeared in a larger publication.
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