外國人最想和你聊的時事話題：數字的秘密
- 雙語介紹
- 關鍵詞句
What is number 什么是數字
A number is a mathematical object used to count and measure. A notational symbol that represents a number is called a numeral but in common use, the word number can mean the abstract object, the symbol, or the word for the number. In addition to their use in counting and measuring, numerals are often used for labels (telephone numbers), for ordering (serial numbers), and for codes (e.g., ISBNs). In mathematics, the definition of number has been extended over the years to include such numbers as zero, negative numbers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, and complex numbers.
Certain procedures that take one or more numbers as input and produce a number as output are called numerical operations. Unary operations take a single input number and produce a single output number. For example, the successor operation adds one to an integer, thus the successor of 4 is 5. Binary operations take two input numbers and produce a single output number. Examples of binary operations include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and exponentiation. The study of numerical operations is called arithmetic
Some numbers traditionally have alternative words to express them, including the following:
·Pair, couple, brace: 2
·Trio: 3
·Dozen: 12
·Baker's dozen: 13
·Score: 20
·Gross: 144
·Ream: 480 (old measure) 500 (new measure)
·Great gross: 1728
Numbers should be distinguished from numerals, the symbols used to represent numbers. Boyer showed that Egyptians created the first ciphered numeral system.[citation needed] Greeks followed by mapping their counting numbers onto Ionian and Doric alphabets. The number five can be represented by both the base ten numeral "5", by the Roman numeral and ciphered letters. Notations used to represent numbers are discussed in the article numeral systems. An important development in the history of numerals was the development of a positional system, like modern decimals, which can represent very large numbers. The Roman numerals require extra symbols for larger numbers.
人類最早用來計數（counting）的工具是手指和腳趾，但它們只能表示20以內的數字。當數目很大時，大多數的原始人(primitive man)就用小石子來記數。漸漸地，人們又發(fā)明了打繩結來記數(count by tying knots)的方法，或者在獸皮(animal skin)、獸骨(animal bone)、樹木、石頭上刻畫記數。中國古代是用木、竹或骨頭制成的小棍來記數，稱為算籌(counting rod)。這些記數方法和記數符號慢慢轉變成了最早的數字符號（數碼numerical code）。如今，世界各國都使用阿拉伯數字(Arabic numerals)為標準數字。
隨著數字中的奧秘(The Secret of Numbers)逐漸被揭示，從0到9，及其無限組合出來的這些看似簡單枯燥的數字，也越來越引起人們的認識和重視。例如通過姓名中的數字，可以看出工作事業(yè)、婚姻感情和財運學業(yè)等方面的吉兇(good or ill luck)情況。小小的數字為何有這么大的魔力呢？
That number meant "woman" in the secret language of American Revolutionary War spies.
在美國革命戰(zhàn)爭間諜們的秘密語言中，這個數字的意思是"女人"。
And you need maybe a secret word or a secret number to get in, but we say a password, it's the word that lets you pass in, so you would need a password, which of course also might be anything.
(上網時）你可能還需要有一個秘密的單詞或數字，我們稱它們?yōu)?quot;password"。有了密碼你才能進入網絡，你可以選任何數字字母或詞匯作為你的密碼。
Because messages are encoded numbers, you could think of this problem as having the five couriers share the secret of a number.
由于訊息已經編碼成數字，你可以將這個問題想成有五名情報員要分享一個秘密數字。
The seemingly simple numbers contain profound mystery.
一個個看似簡單的數字中蘊含著深刻的奧秘。
The various features presented by numbers make people exclaim over the mystery of nature and express more admiration for its secret.
數字展現的各種特點，令人在對大自然的奧秘感嘆玄妙之余，更多了一份敬佩。
It embeds a secret voice into a digital audio signal in order to communicate secretly.
它把秘密語音嵌入到數字音頻信號中實現保密通信。
The secret of numbers is gradually discovered and attracted more and more attention.
數字的秘密逐漸被解釋并受到越來越多的關注。
The mysterious numbers themselves belong to an extremely counting signal. It is initially remarked by the ten heavenly stems and twelve earthly branches, and then Arabic numerals are universally used around the world.
神奇的數字本身屬于一個極為簡單的記數符號，中國最早用天干地支表示，后來全世界通用阿拉伯數字。
Many people believe that the numbers can divine good or ill luck, and forecast fortune.
很多人認為數字可以占卜吉兇，預測運勢。
Digital watermarking techniques can be used for purposes such as label, authentication, control and dada hiding etc, by embedding a secret imperceptible signal directly into the data to be protected.
數字水印技術通過向被保護的多媒體數據中加入透明的秘密信息，來達到標識、鑒別、控制或隱藏信息等作用。
Generally speaking, image, audio and video watermarking are comparatively similar in algorithm realization, with their redundancy and the trait of HVS (Human Video System) or HAS (Human Audio System), in which we can embed watermark. But other than the aforementioned, there is no redundancy to transfer secret info in text document.
一般來說，圖像、音頻、視頻等數字水印在實現算法上比較相似，主要是利用圖像、音頻、視頻的冗余信息和HVS(Human Video System)、HAS(Human Audio System)的特點來加載水印，但是文本數字水印和前面這幾種水印不同，文本中基本上不包含用于秘密信息傳遞的冗余信息。
Part 3 Let's Talk！ 開始交流吧！
Stiffen: Thanks for sparing time to have lunch with me, Smith. I know how busy you are.
史蒂芬：謝謝您趕來與我共度午餐，史密斯，我知道你很忙。
Smith: Well, you know, Steven, it is a better way to negotiate at table because the atmosphere is relaxing and can ease the tension.
史密斯：唔，史蒂芬，飯桌上談判是一個好辦法，因為氣氛輕松，能緩解壓力。
Stiffen: Smith, I have been told there is a slight problem over price.
史蒂芬：史密斯，我聽說價格上出了點小問題。
Smith: I don't think it's a big problem. William simply told me that he didn't have the right to make a decision.
史密斯：我并不覺得那是什么大問題。威廉只是說他沒有作決定的權力。
Stiffen: Yes, I understand. Money issues must be determined by the boss in general.
史蒂芬：是的，我知道。可以這么說，錢的問題一向是由老板定奪。
Smith: I see. Don't you feel negotiating is a lot slower in this way?
史密斯：原來如此。但你不覺得這樣會使談判進度變慢嗎？
Stiffen: Maybe short of efficiency, I admit.
史蒂芬：我承認可能會缺乏效率。
Smith: Well, to put it in a simple way, we feel we should be rewarded with a big discount for wholesales.
史密斯：好吧，簡單地說，我們應該享有批發(fā)的折扣。
Stiffen: Sounds reasonable. Can you provide some numbers for me?
史蒂芬：聽起來很合理。你可否給我具體的數字呢？
Smith: If A.J. is to be your only agent in North America, a discount of 10％ per quarter is acceptable, the more we order, the more discount we should enjoy.
史密斯：如果A.J.日后成為貴公司在北美的獨家代理商，我想每季度九折是可以接受的。訂貨量越多折扣也就越大。
Stiffen: I think it is no problem, if you really feel you can sell so many.
史蒂芬：如果你真的認為貴公司能夠銷售這么多的貨，我想應該沒問題。
Smith: I believe so. You have got a first-class product line.
史密斯：我相信我們辦得到。因為你們有一流的生產線。
Stiffen: I can give you the discounts if you agree to a commission of 15％ of the price.
史蒂芬：如果你同意把傭金訂為價格的百分之十五，那我就同意你要求的折扣。
Smith: 18％ and you've got yourself a deal.
史密斯：百分之十八，咱們成交。
Stiffen: How about 16％?
史蒂芬：百分之十六如何？
Smith: OK, I think we can accept the 16％ commission.
史密斯：好吧，可以接受凈價百分之十六的傭金條件。
Stiffen: Good. And can we agree to pay once a month?
史蒂芬：好。我們每月付款一次可以嗎？
Smith: We'd prefer to make payment per quarter. With such large orders, it would be bad to our cash-flow if we paid out so much before sales began.
史密斯：我想每季度付一次比較好。由于我們下的訂單這么大，在進賬之前就要付出這么大筆的款項將有損我們的現金流量。
