The colossal book of short puzzles and problems : combinatorics, probability : algebra, geometry, topology, chess, logic, cryptarithms, wordplay, physics, and other topics of recreational mathematics

Finally collected in one volume, Martin Gardner's immensely popular short puzzles; along with a few new ones from the master. For more than twenty-five years, Martin Gardner was Scientific American's renowned provocateur of popular math. His yearly gatherings of short and inventive problems were easily his most anticipated math columns. Loyal readers would savor the wit and elegance of his explorations in physics, probability, topology, and chess, among others. Grouped by subject and arrayed from easiest to hardest, the puzzles gathered here, which complement the lengthier, more involved problems in The Colossal Book of Mathematics , have been selected by Gardner for their illuminating; and often bewildering; solutions. Filled with over 300 illustrations, this new volume even contains nine new mathematical gems that Gardner, now ninety, has been gathering for the last decade. No amateur or expert math lover should be without this indispensable volume; a capstone to Gardner's seventy-year career. 308 illustrations Cover......Page 1 The Colossal Book of Short Puzzles and Problems......Page 10 Copyright......Page 11 Contents......Page 14 Preface......Page 16 Introduction......Page 18 I Combinatorial & Numerical Problems......Page 22 1. Combinatorics......Page 24 2. Probability......Page 60 3. Numbers......Page 82 4. Algebra......Page 106 II Geometric Puzzles......Page 126 5. Plane Geometry......Page 128 6. Solid Geometry......Page 161 7. Shapes & Dissections......Page 187 8. Topology......Page 218 III Algorithmic Puzzles & Games......Page 246 9. Procedures......Page 248 10. Scheduling & Planning......Page 291 11. Games......Page 333 12. Chess......Page 360 IV Other Puzzles......Page 386 13. Logic......Page 388 14. Cryptarithms......Page 410 15. Wordplay......Page 421 16. Physical Objects......Page 443 17. Physics......Page 461 Appendix: Twelve More Brain Teasers......Page 480 Selected Titles......Page 488 Index......Page 492

For more than twenty-five years, Martin Gardner was Scientific American's renowned provocateur of popular math. His yearly gatherings of short and inventive problems were easily his most anticipated math columns. Loyal readers would savor the wit and elegance of his explorations in physics, probability, topology, and chess, among others. Grouped by subject and arrayed from easiest to hardest, the puzzles gathered here, which complement the lengthier, more involved problems in The Colossal Book of Mathematics, have been selected by Gardner for their illuminating; and often bewildering; solutions. Filled with over 300 illustrations, this new volume even contains nine new mathematical gems that Gardner, now ninety, has been gathering for the last decade. No amateur or expert math lover should be without this indispensable volume; a capstone to Gardner's seventy-year career.

A single-volume collection of popular short puzzles culled from the math expert's Scientific American columns is grouped by subject and difficulty level and features nine new puzzles. By the author of The Colossal Book of Mathematics. 10,000 first printing. Collected in one volume, here are Martin Gardner's short puzzles - along with a few new ones from the master