Half a century of pythagoras magazine; ed. by alex van den brandhof

Founded in 1961 and still thriving today, the recreational magazine Pythagoras has given generations of high school students in the Netherlands a perspective on many branches of mathematics that are not taught in schools. This book is a selection of the best and most inspiring articles from Pythagoras magazine. It contains a mix of problems - some easy, some challenging, always original - as well as playful introductions to subjects in algebra, geometry, topology, number theory, and more. Concepts like sudoku and the magic square are given a whole new dimension. Articles on Escher's 'impossible objects', a recurring subject over the years, are part of a special section on mathematics and art. Smart high school students and anyone else with a sharp and inquisitive mind will find in this book a treasure trove rich enough to keep one's mind engaged for many weeks and months. Half a Century of Pythagoras Magazine is a selection of the best and most inspiring articles from this Dutch magazine for recreational mathematics. Founded in 1961 and still thriving today, Pythagoras has given generations of high school students in the Netherlands a perspective on the many branches of mathematics that are not taught in schools. The book contains a mix of easy, yet original puzzles, more challenging {u2013} and at least as original {u2013} problems, as well as playful introductions to a plethora of subjects in algebra, geometry, topology, number theory and more. Concepts like the sudoku and the magic square are given a whole new dimension. One of the first editors was a personal friend of world famous Dutch graphic artist Maurits Escher, whose 'impossible objects' have been a recurring subject over the years. Articles about his work are part of a special section on 'Mathematics and Art'. While many books on recreational mathematics rely heavily on 'folklore', a reservoir of ancient riddles and games that are being recycled over and over again, most of the puzzles and problems in Half a Century of Pythagoras Magazine are original, invented for this magazine by Pythagoras' many editors and authors over the years. Some are no more than cute little brainteasers which can be solved in a minute, others touch on profound mathematics and can keep the reader entranced indefinitely. Smart high school students and anyone else with a sharp and inquisitive mind will find in this book a treasure trove which is rich enough to keep his or her mind engaged for many weeks and months Containing an entertaining mix of original problems as well as playful introductions to subjects from topology to number theory, mathematical art, and more, this book is a selection of the most inspiring articles from Pythagoras magazine. Ideal for high school students and anyone with an inquisitive mind. Front Matter Contents Preface 1 - Brainteasers 2 - Puzzles, Games, and Strategies 3 - Mathematics and Art 4 - Geometry 5 - Numbers 6 - Dionigmas 7 - Solutions Bibliography About the Editors