Riddles of the Sphinx and Other Mathematical Puzzle Tales (Anneli Lax New Mathematical Library, Series Number 32)

Martin Gardner begins Riddles with questions about splitting up polygons into prescribed shapes and he ends this book with an offer of a prize of $100 for the first person to send him a 3 x# magic square consisting of consecutive primes. Only Gardner could fit so many diverse and tantalizing problems into one book. This material was drawn from Gardner's column in Issac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. His riddles presented here incorporate the responses of his initial readers, along with additions suggested by the editors of this series. In this book, Gardner draws us from questions to answers, always presenting us with new riddles- some as yet unanswered. Solving these riddles is not simply a matter of logic and calculation, though these play a role. Luck and inspiration are factors as well., so beginners and experts alike may profiably exercise their wits on Gardner's problems, whose subjects range from geometry to word play to questions relating to physics and geology. We guarantee that you will solve some of these riddles, be stumped by others, and be amused by almost all of the stories and settings that Gardner has devised to raise these questions. Solving These Riddles Is Not Simply A Matter Of Logic And Calculation, Though These Play A Role. Luck And Inspiration Are Factors As Well, So Beginners And Experts Alike May Profitably Exercise Their Wits On Gardner's Problems, Whose Subjects Range From Geometry To Word Play To Questions Relating To Physics And Geology. We Guarantee That You Will Solve Some Of These Riddles, Be Stumped By Others, And Be Amused By Almost All Of The Stories And Settings That Gardner Has Devised To Raise These Questions.--back Cover. Riddles Of The Sphinx -- Precognition And The Mystic Seven -- On To Charmain -- Technology On Vzigs -- The Valley Of Lost Things -- Around The Solar System -- The Stripe On Barberpolia -- The Road To Mandalay -- The Black Hole Of Cal Cutter -- Science Fantasy Quiz -- The Barbers Of Barberpolia -- It's All Done With Mirrors -- Satan And The Apple -- How's-that-again Flanagan -- Relativistically Speaking -- Bar Bets On The Bagel -- Catch The Bem -- Animal Ttt -- Playing Safe On The Bagel -- Sex Among The Polyomans -- Inner Planets Quiz -- Puzzles In Flatland -- Dirac's Scissors -- Bull's-eyes And Pratfalls -- Flarp Flips And Another Fiver -- Blues In The Night -- Again, How's That Again? -- Alice In Beeland -- Hustle Off To Buffalo -- Ray Palmer's Arcade -- Puzzle Flags On Mars -- The Vanishing Plank -- 987654321 -- Time-reversed Worlds -- The Wisdom Of Solomon -- Thang, The Planet Eater. By Martin Gardner. Martin Gardner begins Riddles with questions about splitting up polygons into prescribed shapes and he ends this book with an offer of a prize of $100 for the first person to send him a 3 x 3 magic square consisting of consecutive primes. Only Gardner could fit so many diverse and tantalizing problems into one book. This material was drawn from Gardner's column in Issac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. His riddles presented here incorporate the responses of his initial readers, along with additions suggested by the editors of this series. In this book, Gardner draws us from questions to answers, always presenting us with new riddles—some as yet unanswered. Solving these riddles is not simply a matter of logic and calculation, though these play a role. Luck and inspiration are factors as well, so beginners and experts alike may profitably exercise their wits on Gardner's problems, whose subjects range from geometry to word play to questions relating to physics and geology. We guarantee that you will solve some of these riddles, be stumped by others, and be amused by almost all of the stories and settings that Gardner has devised to raise these questions.