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| mathematical games column: Martin Gardner's Mathematical Games Martin Gardner, 2005 The entire collection of Martin Gardner's Scientific American columns are on one searchable CD! Martin Gardner's ``Mathematical Games'' column ran in Scientific American from 1956 to 1986. In these columns, Gardner introduced hundreds of thousands of readers to the delights of mathematics and of puzzles and problem solving. His column broke such stories as Rivest, Shamir and Adelman on public-key cryptography, Mandelbrot on fractals, Conway on Life, and Penrose on tilings. He enlivened classic geometry and number theory and introduced readers to new areas such as combinatorics and graph theory. The CD contains the following articles: (1) Hexaflexagons and Other Mathematical Diversions; (2) The Second Scientific American Book of Mathematical Puzzles and Diversions; (3) New Mathematical Diversions; (4) The Unexpected Hanging and Other Mathematical Diversions; (5) Martin Gardner's 6th Book of Mathematical Diversions from Scientific American; (6) Mathematical Carnival; (7) Mathematical Magic Show; (8) Mathematical Circus; (9) The Magic Numbers of Dr. Matrix; (10) Wheels, Life, and Other Mathematical Amusements; (11) Knotted Doughnuts and Other Mathematical Entertainers; (12) Time Travel and Other Mathematical Bewilderments; (13) Penrose Tiles to Trapdoor Ciphers; (14) Fractal Music, Hypercards, and more Mathematical Recreations from Scientific American and (15) The Last Recreations: Hydras, Eggs, and Other Mathematical Mystifications. A profile and interview with Martin Gardner is included in this collection. |
| mathematical games column: My Best Mathematical and Logic Puzzles Martin Gardner, 2013-04-10 The noted expert selects 70 of his favorite short puzzles, including such mind-bogglers as The Returning Explorer, The Mutilated Chessboard, Scrambled Box Tops, and dozens more involving logic and basic math. Solutions included. |
| mathematical games column: Colossal Book of Mathematics Martin Gardner, 2001 No amateur or math authority can be without this ultimate compendium of classic puzzles, paradoxes, and puzzles from America's best-loved mathematical expert. 320 line drawings. |
| mathematical games column: Mathematics, Magic and Mystery Martin Gardner, 1956 Challenging mathematical puzzles and tricks that may be played with cards, common objects, special equipment, drawings, and pure numbers |
| mathematical games column: Entertaining Mathematical Puzzles Martin Gardner, 1986-10 Playing with mathematical riddles can be an intriguing and fun-filled pastime — as popular science writer Martin Gardner proves in this entertaining collection. Puzzlists need only an elementary knowledge of math and a will to resist looking up the answer before trying to solve a problem. Written in a light and witty style, Entertaining Mathematical Puzzles is a mixture of old and new riddles, grouped into sections that cover a variety of mathematical topics: money, speed, plane and solid geometry, probability, topology, tricky puzzles, and more. The probability section, for example, points out that everything we do, everything that happens around us, obeys the laws of probability; geometry puzzles test our ability to think pictorially and often, in more than one dimension; while topology, among the youngest and rowdiest branches of modern geometry, offers a glimpse into a strange dimension where properties remain unchanged, no matter how a figure is twisted, stretched, or compressed. Clear and concise comments at the beginning of each section explain the nature and importance of the math needed to solve each puzzle. A carefully explained solution follows each problem. In many cases, all that is needed to solve a puzzle is the ability to think logically and clearly, to be on the alert for surprising, off-beat angles...that strange hidden factor that everyone else had overlooked. Fully illustrated, this engaging collection will appeal to parents and children, amateur mathematicians, scientists, and students alike, and may, as the author writes, make the reader want to study the subject in earnest and explains some of the inviting paths that wind away from the problems into lusher areas of the mathematical jungle. 65 black-and-white illustrations. |
| mathematical games column: The Mathematical Gardner David A. Klarner, 2012-12-06 -~- T he articles in this book are dedicated to Martin Gardner, the world's greatest expositor and popularizer of mathematics. While our papers are confined to this single subject, Gardner's interests and accomplishments have a wide range of subjects. Hence, we have entitled the book the Mathematical Gardner, and would like to see other volumes such as the Magical, the Literary, the Philosophical, or the Scientific Gardner accompany it. Of course, our title is also an appropriate pun, for Martin Gardner's relationship to the mathematical community is similar to a gardener's relationship to a beautiful flower garden. The contributors to this volume comprise only a small part of a large body of mathematicians whose work has been nurtured by its exposition in Mathematical Games; Martin's column which appears every month in Scientific American. More than just a mathematical journalist, Martin connects his readers by passing along problems and information and stimulating creative activity. Thus, he is a force behind the scenes as well as a public figure. Two people were particularly helpful in putting this book together. |
| mathematical games column: Mathematical Puzzle Tales Martin Gardner, 2000 36 of Martin Gardner's most cunning brainteasers, suitable for all mathematical problem solvers. |
| mathematical games column: Wheels, Life and Other Mathematical Amusements Martin Gardner, 2020-10-06 Martin Gardner's Mathematical Games columns in Scientific American inspired and entertained several generations of mathematicians and scientists. Gardner in his crystal-clear prose illuminated corners of mathematics, especially recreational mathematics, that most people had no idea existed. His playful spirit and inquisitive nature invite the reader into an exploration of beautiful mathematical ideas along with him. These columns were both a revelation and a gift when he wrote them; no one--before Gardner--had written about mathematics like this. They continue to be a marvel. This is the original 1983 edition and contains columns published from 1970-1972. It includes three columns on the game of Life. |
| mathematical games column: The Colossal Book of Short Puzzles and Problems Martin Gardner, 2006 The renowned provocateur of popular math presents a collection of his widely recognized short puzzles--along with a few new ones--that explore chess, physics, probability, and topology, among other topics. |
| mathematical games column: Hexaflexagons, Probability Paradoxes, and the Tower of Hanoi Martin Gardner, 2008-09 The first of fifteen updated editions of the collected Mathematical Games of Martin Gardner, king of recreational mathematics. |
| mathematical games column: Another Fine Math You've Got Me Into. . . Ian Stewart, 2013-02-20 Sixteen columns from the French edition of Scientific American feature oddball characters and wacky wordplay in a mathematical wonderland of puzzles and games that also imparts significant mathematical ideas. 1992 edition. |
| mathematical games column: Perplexing Puzzles and Tantalizing Teasers Martin Gardner, Laszlo Kubinyi, 1988-05 Combines two previously published works, resulting in ninety-three brain-teasing puzzles, riddles, and questions with an emphasis on humor. |
| mathematical games column: The Magic Numbers of Dr. Matrix Martin Gardner, 2020-10-06 Martin Gardner's Mathematical Games columns in Scientific American inspired and entertained several generations of mathematicians and scientists. Gardner in his crystal-clear prose illuminated corners of mathematics, especially recreational mathematics, that most people had no idea existed. His playful spirit and inquisitive nature invite the reader into an exploration of beautiful mathematical ideas along with him. These columns were both a revelation and a gift when he wrote them; no one--before Gardner--had written about mathematics like this. They continue to be a marvel. This volume is a collection of Irving Joshua Matrix columns published in the magazine from 1960-1980. There were several collections of Dr. Matrix, the first in 1967; they were revised as Gardner reconnected with the good doctor over the years. This is the 1985 Prometheus Books edition and contains all the Dr. Matrix columns from the magazine. |
| mathematical games column: Martin Gardner's Sixth Book of Mathematical Games from Scientific American Martin Gardner, 1963 |
| mathematical games column: The Raven's Hat Jonas Peters, Nicolai Meinshausen, 2021-02-02 Try to solve a series of unusual math games in this playful, illustrated guide that breaks down important math concepts for everyday adult readers. “A wonderful book for someone who likes mathematics and likes to be challenged!” —Chris Bernhardt, author of Quantum Computing for Everyone This book presents a series of engaging math games that seem unsolvable—but can be solved when they are translated into mathematical terms. How can players find their ID cards when the cards are distributed randomly among twenty boxes? By applying the theory of permutations. How can a player guess the color of her own hat when she can only see other players’ hats? Hamming codes, which are used in communication technologies. Like magic, mathematics solves the apparently unsolvable. Featuring a wide range of mathematics, these games allow anyone, including university students and anyone with high school-level math, to experience the joy of mathematical discovery. |
| mathematical games column: Mathematical Carnival Martin Gardner, 2020-10-06 Martin Gardner's Mathematical Games columns in Scientific American inspired and entertained several generations of mathematicians and scientists. Gardner in his crystal-clear prose illuminated corners of mathematics, especially recreational mathematics, that most people had no idea existed. His playful spirit and inquisitive nature invite the reader into an exploration of beautiful mathematical ideas along with him. These columns were both a revelation and a gift when he wrote them; no one--before Gardner--had written about mathematics like this. They continue to be a marvel. This volume, first published in 1975, contains columns published in the magazine from 1965-1967. This 1989 MAA edition contains a foreword by John H. Conway and a postscript and extended bibliography added by Gardner for this edition. |
| mathematical games column: Undiluted Hocus-Pocus Martin Gardner, 2015-11-03 The autobiography of the beloved writer who inspired a generation to study math and science Martin Gardner wrote the Mathematical Games column for Scientific American for twenty-five years and published more than seventy books on topics as diverse as magic, religion, and Alice in Wonderland. Gardner's illuminating autobiography is a candid self-portrait by the man evolutionary theorist Stephen Jay Gould called our single brightest beacon for the defense of rationality and good science against mysticism and anti-intellectualism. Gardner takes readers from his childhood in Oklahoma to his varied and wide-ranging professional pursuits. He shares colorful anecdotes about the many fascinating people he met and mentored, and voices strong opinions on the subjects that matter to him most, from his love of mathematics to his uncompromising stance against pseudoscience. For Gardner, our mathematically structured universe is undiluted hocus-pocus—a marvelous enigma, in other words. Undiluted Hocus-Pocus offers a rare, intimate look at Gardner’s life and work, and the experiences that shaped both. |
| mathematical games column: Math with Bad Drawings Ben Orlin, 2018-09-18 A hilarious reeducation in mathematics-full of joy, jokes, and stick figures-that sheds light on the countless practical and wonderful ways that math structures and shapes our world. In Math With Bad Drawings, Ben Orlin reveals to us what math actually is; its myriad uses, its strange symbols, and the wild leaps of logic and faith that define the usually impenetrable work of the mathematician. Truth and knowledge come in multiple forms: colorful drawings, encouraging jokes, and the stories and insights of an empathetic teacher who believes that math should belong to everyone. Orlin shows us how to think like a mathematician by teaching us a brand-new game of tic-tac-toe, how to understand an economic crises by rolling a pair of dice, and the mathematical headache that ensues when attempting to build a spherical Death Star. Every discussion in the book is illustrated with Orlin's trademark bad drawings, which convey his message and insights with perfect pitch and clarity. With 24 chapters covering topics from the electoral college to human genetics to the reasons not to trust statistics, Math with Bad Drawings is a life-changing book for the math-estranged and math-enamored alike. |
| mathematical games column: Knotted Doughnuts and Other Mathematical Entertainments Martin Gardner, 2020-10-06 Martin Gardner's Mathematical Games columns in Scientific American inspired and entertained several generations of mathematicians and scientists. Gardner in his crystal-clear prose illuminated corners of mathematics, especially recreational mathematics, that most people had no idea existed. His playful spirit and inquisitive nature invite the reader into an exploration of beautiful mathematical ideas along with him. These columns were both a revelation and a gift when he wrote them; no one--before Gardner--had written about mathematics like this. They continue to be a marvel. This is the original 1986 edition and contains columns published from 1972-1974. |
| mathematical games column: More Mathematical Puzzles of Sam Loyd Sam Loyd, Martin Gardner, 1960-01-01 Second collection of amusing, thought-provoking problems and puzzles from the Cyclopedia. Arithmetic, algebra, speed and distance problems, game theory, counter and sliding block problems, similar topics. 166 problems. 150 original drawings, diagrams. |
| mathematical games column: The Last Recreations Martin Gardner, 2007-02-28 Of all of Martin Gardners writings, none gained him a wider audience or was more central to his reputation than his Mathematical Recreations column in Scientific American - which virtually defined the genre of popular mathematics writing for a generation. Flatland, Hydras and Eggs: Mathematical Mystifications is the final collection of these columns, covering the period roughly from 1979 to Gardners retirement in 1986. As always in his published collections, Gardner includes letters commenting on the ideas presented in his articles. These columns show him at the top of his form and should not be missed by anyone with an interest in mathematics. |
| mathematical games column: When You Were a Tadpole and I Was a Fish Martin Gardner, 2009-10-13 “Martin Gardner is indispensable. Here’s the perfect introduction to the range of his obsessions—from Ann Coulter to The Wizard of Oz.” —William Poundstone, bestselling author of Are You Smart Enough to Work at Google? Best known as the longtime writer of the Mathematical Games column for Scientific American—which introduced generations of readers to the joys of recreational mathematics—Martin Gardner has for decades pursued a parallel career as a devastatingly effective debunker of what he once famously dubbed “fads and fallacies in the name of science.” It is mainly in this latter role that he is onstage in this collection of choice essays. When You Were a Tadpole and I Was a Fish takes aim at a gallery of amusing targets, ranging from Ann Coulter's qualifications as an evolutionary biologist to the logical fallacies of precognition and extrasensory perception, from Santa Claus to The Wizard of Oz, from mutilated chessboards to the little-known “one-poem poet” Langdon Smith (the original author of this volume's title line). The writings assembled here fall naturally into seven broad categories: Science, Bogus Science, Mathematics, Logic, Literature, Religion and Philosophy, and Politics. Under each heading, Gardner displays an awesome level of erudition combined with a wicked sense of humor. “When you figure out the answer [to one of Gardner’s puzzles], you know you’ve found something that is indisputably true anywhere, anytime. For a brief moment, the universe makes perfect sense.” —John Tierney, The New York Times “Smart, witty essays on science and culture.” —Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times “A more than worthwhile introduction to one of the most underappreciated polymaths of the last fifty years.” —Christopher Vola, The Brooklyn Rail |
| mathematical games column: More Mathematical Puzzles and Diversions Martin Gardner, 1982 |
| mathematical games column: Penrose Tiles to Trapdoor Ciphers Martin Gardner, 1997-07-24 Another superb collection of articles from Martin Gardner, the king of recreational mathematics. |
| mathematical games column: Famous Puzzles of Great Mathematicians Miodrag Petković, 2009-01-01 |
| mathematical games column: The Mathemagician and Pied Puzzler Elwyn R. Berlekamp, Tom Rodgers, 1999-03-08 This volume comprises an imaginative collection of pieces created in tribute to Martin Gardner. Perhaps best known for writing Scientific American's Mathematical Games column for years, Gardner used his personal exuberance and fascination with puzzles and magic to entice a wide range of readers into a world of mathematical discovery. This tribute therefore contains pieces as widely varied as Gardner's own interests, ranging from limericks to lengthy treatises, from mathematical journal articles to personal stories. This book makes a charming and unusual addition to any personal library. Selected papers: - The Odyssey of the Figure Eight Puzzle by Stewart Coffin - Block-Packing Jambalaya by Bill Cutler - O'Beirne's Hexiamond by Richard K. Guy - Biblical Ladders by Donald E. Knuth - Three Limericks: On Space, Time and Speed by Tim Rowett. |
| mathematical games column: Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science Martin Gardner, 2012-05-04 Fair, witty appraisal of cranks, quacks, and quackeries of science and pseudoscience: hollow earth, Velikovsky, orgone energy, Dianetics, flying saucers, Bridey Murphy, food and medical fads, and much more. |
| mathematical games column: Mathematical Magic Show Martin Gardner, 2020-10-06 Martin Gardner's Mathematical Games columns in Scientific American inspired and entertained several generations of mathematicians and scientists. Gardner in his crystal-clear prose illuminated corners of mathematics, especially recreational mathematics, that most people had no idea existed. His playful spirit and inquisitive nature invite the reader into an exploration of beautiful mathematical ideas along with him. These columns were both a revelation and a gift when he wrote them; no one--before Gardner--had written about mathematics like this. They continue to be a marvel. This volume, first published in 1977, contains columns published in the magazine from 1965-1968. This 1990 MAA edition contains a foreword by Persi Diaconis and Ron Graham and a postscript and extended bibliography added by Gardner for this edition. |
| mathematical games column: 536 Puzzles and Curious Problems Henry E. Dudeney, 2016-08-17 This compilation of long-inaccessible puzzles by a famous puzzle master offers challenges ranging from arithmetical and algebraical problems to those involving geometry, combinatorics, and topology, plus game, domino, and match puzzles. Includes answers. |
| mathematical games column: Metamagical Themas Douglas R Hofstadter, 2008-08-04 Hofstadter's collection of quirky essays is unified by its primary concern: to examine the way people perceive and think. |
| mathematical games column: Mathematical Puzzles and Diversions Martin Gardner, 1965 |
| mathematical games column: Are Universes Thicker Than Blackberries? Martin Gardner, 2003 Gardner--one of the most brilliant men and gracious writers I have ever known, (Stephen Jay Gould) explores startling scientific concepts, such as the possibility of multiple universes and the theory that time can go backwards. 30 illustrations. |
| mathematical games column: The Scientific American Book of Mathematical Puzzles and Diversions Martin Gardner, 2003-01 |
| mathematical games column: Alex's Adventures in Numberland Alex Bellos, 2011-04-04 The world of maths can seem mind-boggling, irrelevant and, let's face it, boring. This groundbreaking book reclaims maths from the geeks. Mathematical ideas underpin just about everything in our lives: from the surprising geometry of the 50p piece to how probability can help you win in any casino. In search of weird and wonderful mathematical phenomena, Alex Bellos travels across the globe and meets the world's fastest mental calculators in Germany and a startlingly numerate chimpanzee in Japan. Packed with fascinating, eye-opening anecdotes, Alex's Adventures in Numberland is an exhilarating cocktail of history, reportage and mathematical proofs that will leave you awestruck. |
| mathematical games column: The Planiverse A.K. Dewdney, 2012-12-06 A classic book about life in a two-dimensional universe, written by a well-known author. Now brought back into print in this revised and updated edition, the book is written within the great tradition of Abbott's Flatland, and Hinton's famous Sphereland. Accessible, imaginative, and clever, it will appeal to a wide array of readers, from serious mathematicians and computer scientists, to science fiction fans. |
| mathematical games column: Combinatorial Game Theory Aaron N. Siegel, 2023-11-20 It is wonderful to see advanced combinatorial game theory made accessible. Siegel's expertise and enjoyable writing style make this book a perfect resource for anyone wanting to learn the latest developments and open problems in the field. —Erik Demaine, MIT Aaron Siegel has been the major contributor to Combinatorial Game Theory over the last decade or so. Now, in this authoritative work, he has made the latest results in the theory accessible, so that the subject will achieve the place in mathematics that it deserves. —Richard Guy, University of Calgary Combinatorial game theory is the study of two-player games with no hidden information and no chance elements. The theory assigns algebraic values to positions in such games and seeks to quantify the algebraic and combinatorial structure of their interactions. Its modern form was introduced thirty years ago, with the publication of the classic Winning Ways for Your Mathematical Plays by Berlekamp, Conway, and Guy, and interest has rapidly increased in recent decades. This book is a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to the subject, tracing its development from first principles and examples through many of its most recent advances. Roughly half the book is devoted to a rigorous treatment of the classical theory; the remaining material is an in-depth presentation of topics that appear for the first time in textbook form, including the theory of misère quotients and Berlekamp's generalized temperature theory. Packed with hundreds of examples and exercises and meticulously cross-referenced, Combinatorial Game Theory will appeal equally to students, instructors, and research professionals. More than forty open problems and conjectures are mentioned in the text, highlighting the many mysteries that still remain in this young and exciting field. Aaron Siegel holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley and has held positions at the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute and the Institute for Advanced Study. He was a partner at Berkeley Quantitative, a technology-driven hedge fund, and is presently employed by Twitter, Inc. |
| mathematical games column: Mathematical Puzzles Peter Winkler, 2021-01-21 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. 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. |
| mathematical games column: Further Mathematical Diversions Martin Gardner, 1970 |
| mathematical games column: Mathematical Puzzles Sam Loyd, 1960 |
Mathematics - Wikipedia
Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, theories and theorems that are developed and proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself.
Wolfram Mathematica: Modern Technical Computing
Mathematica is built to provide industrial-strength capabilities—with robust, efficient algorithms across all areas, capable of handling large-scale problems, with parallelism, GPU computing …
Mathematics | Definition, History, & Importance | Britannica
Apr 30, 2025 · mathematics, the science of structure, order, and relation that has evolved from elemental practices of counting, measuring, and describing the shapes of objects. It deals with …
Wolfram MathWorld: The Web's Most Extensive Mathematics …
May 22, 2025 · Comprehensive encyclopedia of mathematics with 13,000 detailed entries. Continually updated, extensively illustrated, and with interactive examples.
Wolfram|Alpha: Computational Intelligence
Compute answers using Wolfram's breakthrough technology & knowledgebase, relied on by millions of students & professionals. For math, science, nutrition, history, geography, …
MATHEMATICAL Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of MATHEMATICAL is of, relating to, or according with mathematics. How to use mathematical in a sentence.
Mathematics - Encyclopedia of Mathematics
Mar 30, 2012 · In the 17th century new questions in natural science and technology compelled mathematicians to concentrate their attention on the creation of methods to allow the …
MATHEMATICAL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
mathematical formula The researchers used a mathematical formula to calculate the total population number. mathematical problem It was a mathematical problem that he could not …
Mathematical - definition of mathematical by The Free Dictionary
mathematical - of or pertaining to or of the nature of mathematics; "a mathematical textbook"; "slide rules and other mathematical instruments"; "a mathematical solution to a problem"; …
What is Mathematics? – Mathematical Association of America
Math is about getting the right answers, and we want kids to learn to think so they get the right answer. My reaction was visceral and immediate. “This is wrong. The emphasis needs to be …
Mathematics - Wikipedia
Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, theories and theorems that are developed and proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself.
Wolfram Mathematica: Modern Technical Computing
Mathematica is built to provide industrial-strength capabilities—with robust, efficient algorithms across all areas, capable of handling large-scale problems, with parallelism, GPU computing …
Mathematics | Definition, History, & Importance | Britannica
Apr 30, 2025 · mathematics, the science of structure, order, and relation that has evolved from elemental practices of counting, measuring, and describing the shapes of objects. It deals with …
Wolfram MathWorld: The Web's Most Extensive Mathematics …
May 22, 2025 · Comprehensive encyclopedia of mathematics with 13,000 detailed entries. Continually updated, extensively illustrated, and with interactive examples.
Wolfram|Alpha: Computational Intelligence
Compute answers using Wolfram's breakthrough technology & knowledgebase, relied on by millions of students & professionals. For math, science, nutrition, history, geography, …
MATHEMATICAL Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of MATHEMATICAL is of, relating to, or according with mathematics. How to use mathematical in a sentence.
Mathematics - Encyclopedia of Mathematics
Mar 30, 2012 · In the 17th century new questions in natural science and technology compelled mathematicians to concentrate their attention on the creation of methods to allow the …
MATHEMATICAL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
mathematical formula The researchers used a mathematical formula to calculate the total population number. mathematical problem It was a mathematical problem that he could not …
Mathematical - definition of mathematical by The Free Dictionary
mathematical - of or pertaining to or of the nature of mathematics; "a mathematical textbook"; "slide rules and other mathematical instruments"; "a mathematical solution to a problem"; …
What is Mathematics? – Mathematical Association of America
Math is about getting the right answers, and we want kids to learn to think so they get the right answer. My reaction was visceral and immediate. “This is wrong. The emphasis needs to be …
