The Numbers Behind NUMB3RS: Solving Crime with Mathematics [Paperback]

Keith Devlin (Author), Gary Lorden (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 28, 2007

The companion to the hit CBS crime series Numb3rs presents the fascinating way mathematics is used to fight real-life crime

Using the popular CBS prime-time TV crime series Numb3rs as a springboard, Keith Devlin (known to millions of NPR listeners as ?the Math Guy? on NPR?s Weekend Edition with Scott Simon) and Gary Lorden (the principal math advisor to Numb3rs) explain real-life mathematical techniques used by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to catch and convict criminals. From forensics to counterterrorism, the Riemann hypothesis to image enhancement, solving murders to beating casinos, Devlin and Lorden present compelling cases that illustrate how advanced mathematics can be used in state-of-the-art criminal investigations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Plume (August 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452288576
• ISBN-13: 978-0452288577
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #37 in Books > Law > Criminal Law > Forensic Science
  • #74 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Television > History & Criticism

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

77 of 78 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Read the book. Watch the show. August 29, 2007

By Polymath-In-Training

Format:Paperback

If you watch the TV show Numbers, you'll enjoy reading this book. If you read this book, you'll enjoy watching the TV show.

My wife, who hates math (and is admittedly very poor at it), and I, who love math, both started watching this show from the first episode. She enjoys the show as much as I do. This book, which uses some of the episodes from the show for illustration, does a very fine job of discussing some of the mathematics used on the show. But it does more than that. It discusses the mathematics used by real law enforcement, the CIA, NSA, FBI, courts, etc.

I think one of the strengths of this book is that it corrects a misunderstanding about mathematics, which is that mathematics is identical to arithmetic. Or another misunderstanding, which is that math uses just numbers. Math is much more than that; it's more than algebra or geometry or even calculus. This book discusses a few of these additional areas, such as graph theory, geographic profiling, and Bayesian inference. It has just enough math to be interesting to the wannabe mathematician (like me) and enough good explanations and analogies to be interesting to everyone.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Technical reading at times but very interesting for the nerd in all of us December 4, 2007

By Karen C

Format:Paperback

I'm a huge fan of the tv series, and I wanted to find out more behind the formulas and models used on the show. What I realized is that I'm not as mathematically savvy as I could be, and that the show is very good at applying very complex models to real life, layperson situations.

The book does a very good job at breaking down the theory and explanation, and also explains that the mathematics is intended to address probability and statistical analysis, not to solve the problem. This, I believe, is the key to enjoying both the book and the show.

A great supplement to the show.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A good survey of Mathematics in action April 14, 2008

By Girish Lal Pudieduth

Format:Paperback

I started watching Numb3rs after reading this book. Actually the book helped appreciating the show since the show itself does not clarify many of the techniques they use and most of the time we just have to trust the show. In that sense this book acts as a companion book to the show itself. But it does more than that. The chapter on network analysis was particularly interesting and the discussion on misplaced degrees of separation a good one. The authors make a very readable text even for non-mathematicians.But authors try to cover too many sub fields of applied mathematics in this small book. The depth of the book suffers because these ambitions selections.