Bicycle or Unicycle?: A Collection of Intriguing Mathematical Puzzles

Bicycle or Unicycle?: A Collection of Intriguing Mathematical Puzzles PDF Author: Daniel J. Velleman
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
ISBN: 1470447592
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 305

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Book Description
Bicycle or Unicycle? is a collection of 105 mathematical puzzles whose defining characteristic is the surprise encountered in their solutions. Solvers will be surprised, even occasionally shocked, at those solutions. The problems unfold into levels of depth and generality very unusual in the types of problems seen in contests. In contrast to contest problems, these are problems meant to be savored; many solutions, all beautifully explained, lead to unanswered research questions. At the same time, the mathematics necessary to understand the problems and their solutions is all at the undergraduate level. The puzzles will, nonetheless, appeal to professionals as well as to students and, in fact, to anyone who finds delight in an unexpected discovery. These problems were selected from the Macalester College Problem of the Week archive. The Macalester tradition of a weekly problem was started by Joseph Konhauser in 1968. In 1993 Stan Wagon assumed problem-generating duties. A previous book written by Wagon, Konhauser, and Dan Velleman, Which Way Did the Bicycle Go?, gathered problems from the first twenty-five years of the archive. The title problem in that collection was inspired by an error in logic made by Sherlock Holmes, who attempted to determine the direction of a bicycle from the tracks of its wheels. Here the title problem asks whether a bicycle track can always be distinguished from a unicycle track. You'll be surprised by the answer.

Bicycle or Unicycle?: A Collection of Intriguing Mathematical Puzzles

Bicycle or Unicycle?: A Collection of Intriguing Mathematical Puzzles PDF Author: Daniel J. Velleman
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
ISBN: 1470447592
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 305

Get Book Here

Book Description
Bicycle or Unicycle? is a collection of 105 mathematical puzzles whose defining characteristic is the surprise encountered in their solutions. Solvers will be surprised, even occasionally shocked, at those solutions. The problems unfold into levels of depth and generality very unusual in the types of problems seen in contests. In contrast to contest problems, these are problems meant to be savored; many solutions, all beautifully explained, lead to unanswered research questions. At the same time, the mathematics necessary to understand the problems and their solutions is all at the undergraduate level. The puzzles will, nonetheless, appeal to professionals as well as to students and, in fact, to anyone who finds delight in an unexpected discovery. These problems were selected from the Macalester College Problem of the Week archive. The Macalester tradition of a weekly problem was started by Joseph Konhauser in 1968. In 1993 Stan Wagon assumed problem-generating duties. A previous book written by Wagon, Konhauser, and Dan Velleman, Which Way Did the Bicycle Go?, gathered problems from the first twenty-five years of the archive. The title problem in that collection was inspired by an error in logic made by Sherlock Holmes, who attempted to determine the direction of a bicycle from the tracks of its wheels. Here the title problem asks whether a bicycle track can always be distinguished from a unicycle track. You'll be surprised by the answer.

Bicycle Or Unicycle?

Bicycle Or Unicycle? PDF Author: Daniel J. Velleman
Publisher: MAA Press
ISBN: 9781470457020
Category : Mathematical recreations
Languages : en
Pages : 286

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Book Description


The Mathematical Playground

The Mathematical Playground PDF Author: Alissa S. Crans
Publisher: American Mathematical Society
ISBN: 1470477521
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 382

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Book Description
Welcome to The Mathematical Playground, a book celebrating more than thirty years of the problems column in the MAA undergraduate magazine, Math Horizons. Anecdotes, interviews, and historical sketches accompany the puzzles, conveying the vibrancy of the “Playground” community. The lively prose and humor used throughout the book reveal the enthusiasm and playfulness that have become the column's hallmark. Each chapter features a theme that helps illustrate community: from the Opening Acts—chronicling how interesting questions snowball into original research—to the Posers and Solvers themselves. These stories add an engaging dimension beyond the ample mathematical challenge. A particular highlight is a chapter introducing the seven editors who have produced “The Playground”, revealing the perspectives of the individuals behind the column. The Mathematical Playground has plenty to offer both novice and experienced solvers. The lighthearted, conversational style, together with copious hints, a problem-solving primer, and a detailed glossary, welcomes newcomers, regardless of their background, to the puzzle-solving world. The more seasoned solver will find over twenty new problems plus open-ended challenges and suggestions for further investigation. Whether you're a long-time Math Horizons reader, or encountering “The Playground” for the first time, you are invited into this celebration of the rich culture of recreational mathematics. Just remember the most important rule … Have fun!

The Mathematics of Various Entertaining Subjects

The Mathematics of Various Entertaining Subjects PDF Author: Jennifer Beineke
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691182582
Category : Crafts & Hobbies
Languages : en
Pages : 348

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Book Description
This volume brings together authors from a variety of specialties to present fascinating problems and solutions in recreational mathematics.

Mathematical Puzzles

Mathematical Puzzles PDF Author: Peter Winkler
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 0429557973
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 403

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Book Description
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.

Number Theory and Combinatorics

Number Theory and Combinatorics PDF Author: Bruce M. Landman
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
ISBN: 3110754215
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 370

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Book Description
Over a career that spanned 60 years, Ronald L. Graham (known to all as Ron) made significant contributions to the fields of discrete mathematics, number theory, Ramsey theory, computational geometry, juggling and magical mathematics, and many more. Ron also was a mentor to generations of mathematicians, he gave countless talks and helped bring mathematics to a wider audience, and he held signifi cant leadership roles in the mathematical community. This volume is dedicated to the life and memory of Ron Graham, and includes 20-articles by leading scientists across a broad range of subjects that refl ect some of the many areas in which Ron worked.

The Big Book of Mind-Bending Puzzles

The Big Book of Mind-Bending Puzzles PDF Author: Terry Stickels
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
ISBN: 9781402732553
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 346

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Book Description
Brainiacs on the prowl for challenging fun will find everything they're looking for in these cunning conundrums. Puzzle master Terry Stickels has created a mind-melting collection filled with hundreds of diverse and fiendishly tricky problems--including wordplay, math, analytic reasoning, logic, visual dilemmas, and code breaking. Figure out the next number in a series, find hidden phrases, and determine what a three-dimensional object would look like from two-dimensional drawings. Every puzzle provides a workout that strengthens mental muscles. And while these brainteasers do require concentration, they don't demand any special training or high-level math skills. A little practice, patience, and imagination are all it takes.

Which Way Did the Bicycle Go?

Which Way Did the Bicycle Go? PDF Author: Joseph D. E. Konhauser
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780883853252
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 262

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Book Description
The best problems selected from over 25 years of the Problem of the Week at Macalester College.

The Rapture of the Nerds

The Rapture of the Nerds PDF Author: Cory Doctorow
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 0765329107
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 353

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Book Description
From the two defining personalities of post-cyberpunk SF, a brilliant collaboration to rival 1987's The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling

501 Word Analogy Questions

501 Word Analogy Questions PDF Author: Learning Express LLC
Publisher: Learning Express (NY)
ISBN: 9781576854228
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Helps students become familiar with the question format on standardized tests and learn how to apply logic and reasoning skills to word knowledge. Focuses on exact word definitions and secondary word meanings, relationships between words and how to draw logical conclusions about possible answer choices. Identifies analogies, cause/effect, part/whole, type/category, synonyms, and antonyms.