2019 SYMmetryplus Autumn

Number 70 Autumn 2019 A BULLSEYE FOR TURING It was announced in July this year that Alan Turing (1912-1954) is to be the new face on the £50 note, in 2021. Alan Turing was a brilliant mathematician and computer scientist who played a crucial part in the British war effort, helping to crack the Enigma code used by Germany in World War 2. He was chosen from a shortlist of 12 leading British scientists from 989 nominations that included Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage who also played major parts in developing computing. In 1936 Turing wrote Entsheidungsproblem , showing that it was not possible to prove all mathematical problems can be solved by algorithm. The binary number represents 23061912 – Turing’s date of birth - 23 June 1912. Recent News BULL’S BUDAPEST BATHS BUILDING Ruth Bull sent this intriguing picture seen inside a small building near the baths in Budapest. Image: Bank of England