The mathematics of various entertaining subjects. Volume 3, The magic of mathematics /
edited by Jennifer Beineke & Jason Rosenhouse ; with a foreword by Manjul Bhargava.
- 1 online resource : illustrations (some color)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Frontmatter -- Contents -- Foreword / Preface and Acknowledgments -- PART I. Puzzles and Brainteasers -- 1. Probability in Your Head / 2. Solving Puzzles Backward / 3. Spiral Galaxies Font / 4. Kings, Sages, Hats, and Codes / 5. How to Predict the Flip of a Coin / 6. Coins and Logic / PART II. Games -- 7. Bingo Paradoxes / 8. Wiggly Games and Burnside's Lemma / 9. Losing at Checkers Is Hard / 10. Chutes and Ladders without Chutes or Ladders / 11. Bugs, Braids, and Batching / PART III. Algebra and Number Theory -- 12. The Magic of Charles Sanders Peirce / 13. Can You Win Khalou in Five Moves? / 14. On Partitions into Squares of Distinct Integers Whose Reciprocals Sum to 1 / 15. Puzzles, Parity Maps, and Plenty of Solutions / PART IV. Geometry and Topology -- 16. Should We Call Them Flexa-Bands? / 17. The Shortest Connection Problem on Triangular Grids / 18. Entropy of Lego Jumper Plates / About the Editors -- About the Contributors -- Index Bhargava, Manjul -- Winkler, Peter -- Levitin, Anany / Rosenhouse, Jason -- Anderson, Walker / Demaine, Erik D. / Demaine, Martin L. -- Dougherty, Steven T. / Naqvi, Yusra -- Stein, James D. / Wapner, Leonard M. -- Khovanova, Tanya -- Balof, Barry A. / Benjamin, Arthur T. / Cordes, Jay / Kisenwether, Joseph -- Molnar, David -- Bosboom, Jeffrey / Congero, Spencer / Demaine, Erik D. / Demaine, Martin L. / Lynch, Jayson -- Glass, Darren B. / Lucas, Stephen K. / Needleman, Jonathan S. -- Allocca, Michael P. / Dougherty, Steven T. / Vasquez, Jennifer F. -- Diaconis, Persi / Graham, Ron -- Hopkins, Brian -- Alekseyev, Max A. -- Nacin, David -- Elran, Yossi / Schwartz, Ann -- Mei, Jie / Lamagna, Edmund A. -- McClendon, David M. / Wilson, Jonathon --
The history of mathematics is replete with examples of major breakthroughs resulting from the solutions to recreational problems. The modern theory of probability arose out of problems of concern to gamblers, for example, and modern combinatorics grew out of various games and puzzles. Despite this track record and a wealth of popular-level books, research in recreational mathematics has often been neglected. The Mathematics of Various Entertaining Subjects remedies this situation and returns with an all-new third volume, presenting further research into diverse areas of recreational mathematics. This third volume focuses on four areas: puzzles and brainteasers, games, algebra and number theory, and geometry and topology. Among the many topics, readers will create Spiral Galaxies (Japanese symmetric grid puzzles consisting of squares and circles) whose solutions are letters and numbers, delve into a paradox in the game of Bingo, examine the card tricks of mathematician-philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce, and learn about the mathematics behind Legos. Elucidating the many connections between mathematics and games, The Mathematics of Various Entertaining Subjects is sure to challenge and inspire mathematicians and math enthusiasts.