re: converting numbers to strings, and vice versa
Javascript leans toward string representation. Huh.

re: number to string conversion
We can easily convert from numbers to a string, such as
x = "" + 11 + 22   // gives the string "1122"

re: string to number conversion
a. this does not work
    a = 0 + "33" + "44" = "03344"  // the result is still a string

b. this works, using parseInt()
    a = parseInt("33") + parseInt("44")  // the result is 77

c. this works, using the Number object
    a = new Number("33");
    b = new Number("44")'
    c = a + b;  // the result is 77

Note: Be careful about using a leading zero prefix for a number
      because javascript will regard it as octal (radix 8). For
      example, parseInt("0" + "15") gives the value of 13 decimal.

re: an online javascript reference
Found an interesting javascript reference at http://wsabstract.com/jsref
The parseInt function is discussed there under "Global Functions".
And the Number object is discussed under "Number".