Mathematical Puzzles: Revised Edition (AK Peters/CRC Recreational Mathematics Series)

Research in mathematics is much more than solving puzzles, but most people will agree that solving puzzles is not just fun: it helps focus the mind and increases one's armory of techniques for doing mathematics. Mathematical Puzzles makes this connection explicit by isolating important mathematical methods, then using them to solve puzzles and prove a theorem. This Revised Edition has been thoroughly edited to correct errors and provide clarifications, and includes some totally different solutions, modified puzzles, and one entirely new puzzle. Features A collection of the world’s best mathematical puzzles Each chapter features a technique for solving mathematical puzzles, examples, and finally a genuine theorem of mathematics that features that technique in its proof Puzzles that are entertaining, mystifying, paradoxical, and satisfying; they are not just exercises or contest problems. Research in maths is much more than solving puzzles, but most people will agree that solving puzzles is not just fun: it helps focus the mind and increases one's armory of techniques for doing maths. This book makes this connection explicit by isolating important mathematical methods, then using them to solve puzzles and prove a theorem. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Acknowledgments Preface The Puzzles The Hints 1. Out for the Count 2. Achieving Parity 3. Intermediate Math 4. Graphography 5. Algebra Too 6. Safety in Numbers 7. The Law of Small Numbers 8. Weighs and Means 9. The Power of Negative Thinking 10. In All Probability 11. Working for the System 12. The Pigeonhole Principle 13. Information, Please 14. Great Expectation 15. Brilliant Induction 16. Journey into Space 17. Nimbers and the Hamming Code 18. Unlimited Potentials 19. Hammer and Tongs 20. Let’s Get Physical 21. Back from the Future 22. Seeing Is Believing 23. Infinite Choice 24. Startling Transformation Notes and Sources Bibliography Author Index