John conways parents were agnes boyce and cyril horton conway. Every real number is surrounded by surreals, which are closer to it than any real number. Sep 28, 2017 surreal numbers were first invented by john horton conway in 1969, but was introduced to the public in 1974 by donald knuth through his book surreal numners. John conway s official presentation of the theory appears in his incredible book on numbers and games. Winner of the 2017 jpbm communications award for expository and popular books. At times, they go in the wrong direction, at times they revert, but gradually they discover more and. Research on the go endgame by john horton conway led to the original definition and construction of the surreal numbers. John horton conway biography famous people biography. An introduction to surreal numbers whitman college.
He was an amazing mathematician, among the few who invented a new simple group, among the few who invented a major knot invariant, among the few who invented a new system of numbers, and more than anybody he also invented many many many. John horton conway frs 26 december 1937 11 april 2020 was an english mathematician active in the theory of finite groups, knot theory, number theory, combinatorial game theory and coding theory. Still in high demand, it is being republished with some adjustments and corrections. Some mathematical gems from john conway matt bakers math blog. John horton conway died on april 11, 2020, at the age of 82, from complications related to covid19. He has also made contributions to many branches of recreational mathematics, most notably the invention of the cellular automaton called the game of life. The computer scientist and author of that work, donald knuth, who also wrote a book about conway s surreal numbers, said. In mathematics, the surreal number system is an arithmetic continuum containing the real numbers as well as infinite and infinitesimal numbers, respectively larger or smaller in absolute value than any positive real number. John horton conway inventor of the computer game life, inventor of surreal numbers, etc is a fascinating man and this is a wonderful biography capturing him in. Original story, adapted from the book genius at play. In one of his mathematical games columns, gardner explained conway s method for creating numbers out of nothing, obtaining, in the process, a bewildering zoo of infinite and. The system of surreal numbers, which he invented, is the subject of a popular book by computer scientist donald knuth. John h conways father was a chemistry laboratory assistant.
Onag, as the book is commonly known, is one of those rare publications that sprang to life in a moment of creative energy and has remained influential for over a quarter of a century. Jul 23, 2015 o n a late september day in 1956, john horton conway left home with a trunk on his back. Although john was a pure mathematician, he covered so many bases that. Dec 11, 2000 john horton conway is probably best known as the creatordiscoverer of the computer game called life, with which he refounded the entire field of cellular automata. How two exstudents turned on to pure mathematics and found total happiness.
They were introduced in donald knuths 1974 book surreal numbers. Apr 15, 2020 john horton conway died on april 11, 2020, at the age of 82, from complications related to covid19. Conways construction was introduced in donald knuths 1974 book surreal numbers. A delightful metabiographyplayful indeedof a brilliant iconoclast. John horton conway is a singular mathematician with a lovely loopy brain. Originally written to define the relation between the theories of transfinite numbers and mathematical games, the resulting work is a mathematically sophisticated but eminently enjoyable guide to game theory. This continuum of numbers includes not only real numbers such as integers, fractions and irrational numbers such as pi, but also the infinitesimal and infinite numbers. His father, an autodidact, had left school at age 14 and, with. John horton conway is probably best known as the creatordiscoverer of the computer game called life, with which he refounded the entire field of cellular automata. James gleick, author of the information john horton conway is a singular mathematician with a lovely loopy brain.
Reviewed by andrew bremner am i the only person ever to have claimed a pineapple as deduction against income tax. On numbers and games mathematical association of america. John horton conway, who was emeritus professor at princeton university, new jersey was a mathematician with many and broad interests. John became interested in mathematics at a very early age and his mother recalled that he could recite the powers of two when aged four years. I first heard of john conways surreal numbers from martin gardner. The mathematician john horton conways myriad accomplishments including the. Some mathematical gems from john conway matt bakers. The arrival of conway and guys book of numbers may well mean. See this obituary from princeton university for an overview of conways life and contributions to mathematics. He also made contributions to many branches of recreational mathematics, most notably the invention of the cellular automaton called the game of life. I first heard of john conway s surreal numbers from martin gardner. The book is written by a preeminent mathematician, and is directed at other mathematicians. Here we have collected some recollections from various members of the g4g community.
He was an amazing mathematician, among the few who invented a new simple group, among the few who invented a major knot invariant, among the few who invented a new system of numbers, and more than anybody he also invented many many. In his book, which takes the form of a dialogue, knuth coined the term surreal numbers for. O n a late september day in 1956, john horton conway left home with a trunk on his back. The perfect guinea pigs, the two key players, were his eldest daughters, susie and rosie, then about 7. In one of his mathematical games columns, gardner explained conways method for creating numbers out of nothing, obtaining, in the process, a bewildering zoo of. Many readers of this blog will already be familiar with the game of life, surreal numbers, the doomsday algorithm, monstrous moonshine, sprouts, and the 15 theorem, to name just a. Apr, 2020 we pay tribute to john horton conway with clips from the man himself, plus contributions from siobhan roberts, david eisenbud, colm mulcahy and tony padilla. Jul 19, 2010 photos of john horton conway bibliography of john h. The story of how surreal numbers came to be written is told in mathematical people by donald j. John conway, mathematician and game of life inventor. The two were coauthors of 50 papers and published the 706page book sphere packings. All these games provided raw data when conway s surreal number theory was in development. John became interested in mathematics at a very early age and his mother agnes recalled that he could recite the powers of two when aged four years.
The definition and construction of the surreals is due to john horton conway. Nearly 30 years ago, john horton conway introduced a new way to construct numbers. Knuth, in appreciation of this revolutionary system, took a week off from work on the art of computer programming to write an introduction to conways method. The book of numbers lets readers of all levels of mathematical sophistication or lack thereof understand the origins, patterns, and interrelationships of different numbers. The additions to the second edition present recent developments in the area. In mathematics, the surreal number system is a totally ordered proper class containing the real. Surreal numbers were first invented by john horton conway in 1969, but was introduced to the public in 1974 by donald knuth through his book surreal numners. John conway s parents were agnes boyce and cyril horton conway. John horton conway, the englishborn princeton mathematician.
Onag, as the book is commonly known, is one of those rare publications that sprang to life in a moment of creative energy and has remained influential for over a quarter of a century originally written to define the. They also mention other numbering systems, including the roman numerals, greek, egyptian, and cuneiform babylonian numbers that persist in our 60based measures of minutes. Conway s construction was introduced in donald knuths 1974 book surreal numbers. The third child of parents agnes and cyril, horton demonstrated remarkable math prowess early in his life. This unique book brings together facts, pictures and stories about numbers in a way that no one but an extraordinarily talented pair of mathematicians and writers could do. If youve never heard of john horton conway, youd be forgiven. How playing games led to more numbers than anybody ever thought of with dr. He is archimedes, mick jagger, salvador dali, and richard feynman all rolled into onehe boasts a. John conway is a mathematician whose interests run broad and deep, ranging from classical geometry to the 196,884dimensional monster group to infinity and beyond. The computer scientist and author of that work, donald knuth, who also wrote a book about conways surreal numbers, said. An unabashed original, john horton conway is archimedes, mick jagger, salvador dali, and richard feynman all rolled into onea singular mathematician, with a rock stars charisma, a sly sense of humor, a polymaths promiscuous curiosity, and a burning desire to explain everything about the world to everyone in it. They discover them little by little and through dialog create a mathematical proof for the number system.
Surreal numbers how playing games led to more numbers than anybody ever thought of. John horton conway onag, as the book is known, is one of those rare publications that sprang to life in a moment of creative energy and has remained influential for over a quarter of a century. On numbers and games is a mathematics book by john horton conway first published in 1976. Conway princeton university, mathematics department. Shtetloptimized blog archive john horton conway 19372020.
Conway and guy start this book with an enticing survey of how numbers pervade the english language, showing the hidden or notsohidden numerical roots of common words. Onag, as the book is known, is one of those rare publications that sprang to life in a moment of creative energy and has remained influential for over a quarter of a century. Donald knuths surreal numbers is a small little book telling the story of two people discovering john horton conway s surreal numbers. The book about conway by siobhan roberts is an interesting read about the man and his work. John horton conway was born dec 26, 1937, in liverpool, england, the third child and only son of cyril and agnes boyce conway. John horton conway, an englishborn princeton mathematician whose body of work ranged from the rigorously highbrow to the frivolously fun, earning him prizes and a reputation as a creative. Mathematician john horton conway, a magical genius known. John conway, princeton university tuesday february 23. It was a selfhelp book, of sorts, on how to win at games. Photos of john horton conway bibliography of john h.
He also made contributions to many branches of recreational mathematics, most notably the invention of the cellular automaton called the game of life born and raised in liverpool, conway spent. Mathematician john horton conway first invented surreal numbers, and donald knuth introduced. Mar 16, 1995 the book of numbers lets readers of all levels of mathematical sophistication or lack thereof understand the origins, patterns, and interrelationships of different numbers. The legendary john conway 19372020 numberphile podcast. These surreal numbers are applied in the authors mathematical analysis of game strategies. Apr 23, 2020 the computer scientist and author of that work, donald knuth, who also wrote a book about conways surreal numbers, said. Conway was proudest of his discovery of surreal numbers. Unlike his famous counterpart john nash, who received star treatment in the 2001 film a beautiful mind, conway remains a mystery to many. John became interested in mathematics at a very early age and his mother agnes recalled that he. Many other excellent books and webpages about surreal numbers have also. John horton conway was born on december 26, 1937, in liverpool, england. Many readers of this blog will already be familiar with the game of life, surreal numbers, the doomsday algorithm, monstrous moonshine. New york john horton conway, an englishborn princeton mathematician whose body of work ranged from the rigorously highbrow to the frivolously fun, earning him prizes and a reputation as a creative, iconoclastic and even magical genius, died on saturday in new brunswick, new jersey.
Donald knuths surreal numbers is a small little book telling the story of two people discovering john horton conways surreal numbers. We pay tribute to john horton conway with clips from the man himself, plus contributions from siobhan roberts, david eisenbud, colm mulcahy and tony padilla. This new edition ends with an epilogue that sets the stage for further research on surreal numbers. John horton conway mactutor history of mathematics.
Dec 11, 2000 by defining numbers as the strengths of positions in certain games, the author arrives at a new class, the surreal numbers, that includes both real numbers and ordinal numbers. His father, an autodidact, had left school at age 14 and, with his photographic memory, made a living playing cards. Perhaps his greatest achievement certainly his proudest achievement is the invention of new system of numbers, the surreal numbers a continuum of numbers. John horton conway wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Never content with the ordinary, knuth wrote this introduction as a work of fictiona novelette. It is with great sadness that g4g notes the death of john horton conway 26 december 1937 11 april 2020. Apr 11, 2020 on numbers and games is a mathematics book by john horton conway first published in 1976.
Alexanderson birkhauser boston, 1985, pages 200202. The name surreal numbers was not invented by conway, however, but by donald knuth who was so impressed with. The material is, however, developed in a playful and unpretentious manner and many chapters are accessible to nonmathematicians. John conway, the mathematician who will be forever known to many programmers as the man who invented the game of life, died on april 11, 2020 at the age of 82, a victim of covid19. Jan 01, 2015 john horton conway inventor of the computer game life, inventor of surreal numbers, etc is a fascinating man and this is a wonderful biography capturing him in all his exasperating and intriguing ways. The curious mind of john horton conway, reprinted with permission from quanta magazine, an editorially independent division of the simons. A few years ago john horton conway of the university of cambridge hit on a. John horton conway frs born 26 december 1937 is an english mathematician active in the theory of finite groups, knot theory, number theory, combinatorial game theory and coding theory.
685 1375 5 381 221 1075 1452 1342 1151 93 1071 381 330 1141 659 986 1473 394 764 1057 578 1106 1151 941 329 995 929 923 1403 687 1005 1372 499 667 1365 350 556 115