God's Secret Formula: Deciphering the Riddle of the Universe and the Prime Number Code

Rating:
Summary: I won't be satisfied until the avg rating is one star
Review: In my last review (q.v.) I critiqued some of Mr. Plichta's absurd claims in this goofy book. In one of my replies I was critical of the author's use of higher base notations to deliver the result that 1/81 = .0123456789(10)(11)(12)... In actuality there is more wrong with his method than I had space to mention in the last review, so I will give the full treatment here.

What is base notation?
Quite simply, base notation is how many symbols are going to be used to represent numerical quantities. Base-10 (decimal) uses ten symbols, Base-2 (binary) uses two, etc. For example the number "sixteen" would be written as 16 in base-10, and 1000 in base-2. Due to the fact that base notation deals with an economy of symbols used to represent quantities, the same number of symbols should be used throughout the entire base-system for consistency. In other words, a base selection (whatever the number of symbols selected) must remain constant so that no symbols are either wasted or superfluous.

How does base notation relate to the numbers after the decimal point?
Just as each place to the left of the decimal point recieves its value relative to the base (e.g. in base-10, the fourth place to the left of the decimal signifies multiples of 1000, but in base-2 that place value is for multiples of 16), so too do the places to the right of the decimal point. In the case of these numbers, instead of representing multiples of the base, they represent reciprocals of multiples of the base. So for any base n, the first number to the right of the decimal represents increments of 1/n, the second represents 1/(n sqared), etc.

Base selection determines the value of the symbol.
In order to evaluate any number, we must know the base being used. The value of .01 is evaluated as one hundredth in base-10, but its value is one fourth in base-2, one ninth in base-3, etc. In other words without a consistent notation, the value of specific numbers cannot be established.

Plichta's problem.
Plichta wants to use base notation to deliver the result 1/81 = .0123456789(10)(11)... , however no consistent base notation can do the trick. In order to preserve the integrity of the decimal through .0123456789, base-10 must be used. For the next number to be a (10), however, a base of at least eleven must be used, and for the number after that to be an (11), a base of at least twelve must be used. If these alternate bases were used, they would totally change the evaluation of the first part of the decimal (.0123456789), so that a number other than 1/81 would be signified.

What base is Plichta using?
As I stated in my last review, Plichta cannot be using any finite base n, beacuse this would truncate his series of natural numbers at the (n-1)th place. As seen here, Plichta cannot be using a consistent base either, so the question remains as to what base Plichta could possibly have in mind which satisfies the criteria of being non-finite and inconsistent.

Conclusion (to this review anyway).
Plichta seems to make a lot of claims that upon closer inspection make no sense whatsoever (like the claim that the reason 1 is not prime because its "root can easily be calculated"). If the theory doesn't fit the facts, Plichta wants to change the facts. Most respectable thinkers would change the theory.

Rating:
Summary: Peter Plitchta is a rare mind of the highest order!
Review: Other reviews did not mention he discovered 2 elements previously unknown on the periodic table! Also he has a patent on a type of fuel created from a gas from one of the unknown elements! This is revolutionary enough, anyone who can discover things like this is worth listening to, there is no question Peter Plicha is a genius and is far above most scientists and mathematicians.

Rating:
Summary: More Than Meets the Eye
Review: This is a difficult book; partly because it was written at the request of the publisher as a "popular" exposition and partly because Plictha is somewhat full of himself. The 3 Volume set, Das Primzahl Kreuz is easier to understand but is only available in German (amazon.de). He is a highly competent chemist and his observations about the two "missing" elements must be understood before much of his work can be understood. Much of what he puts together in number theory is well known in pieces, but his conclusions are fascinating. I would not recommend the book for someone without a fair grounding in chemistry and number theory, unless it's for casual reading. I would give the 3 volume set 5 stars just for it's attempt to explain the patterns of nature in a comprehensive and interesting way. Whether or not Plichta is correct in all or some of his cosmography is for the reader to decide.