Table of Contents

1. The binary system; 2. Group theory and braids; 3. Eight problems; 4. The games and puzzles of Lewis Carroll; 5. Paper cutting; 6. Board games; 7. Sphere packing; 8. The transcendental number Pi; 9. Victor Eigen, mathemagician; 10. The four-color map theorem; 11. Mr. Apollinax visits New York; 12. Nine problems; 13. Polyominoes and fault-free rectangles; 14. Euler's spoilers: the discovery of an Order-10 Graeco-Latin square; 15. The ellipse; 16. The 24 color squares and the 30 color cubes; 17. H. S. M. Coxeter; 18. Bridg-it and other games; 19. Nine more problems; 20. The calculus of finite differences.

Promotional Information

The latest on packing spheres, Reversi, braids, polyominoes, board games, digits of pi, and the puzzles of Lewis Carroll.

About the Author

For 25 of his 90 years, Martin Gardner wrote 'Mathematical Games and Recreations,' a monthly column for Scientific American magazine. These columns have inspired hundreds of thousands of readers to delve more deeply into the large world of mathematics. He has also made significant contributions to magic, philosophy, debunking pseudoscience, and children's literature. He has produced more than 60 books, including many best sellers, most of which are still in print. His Annotated Alice has sold more than a million copies. He continues to write a regular column for the Skeptical Inquirer magazine.

Reviews

'Martin Gardner's fifteen volumes about Mathematical Games are The Canon - timeless classics that are always worth reading and rereading.' Don Knuth
'Gardner's monthly romp through recreational math and logic ran in Scientific American for 25 years, from the Sputnik splash to the Reagan reign, and nobody has been able to match it since. 'Mathematical Games' was an orgy of right-brain tomfoolery that could be approached for superficial fun or deep insight, or both at the same time ... I can't think of a better present for a clever 12-year old, bored undergraduate, restless retiree, or stay-at-home parent fearing intellectual stagnation.' David Brooks, The Telegraph
"In this collection of 20 reprints of his "Mathematical Games" columns from 1959 and 1961 issues of Scientific American, Gardner shares his delight in recreational math. The renowned mathematics and science writer presents concepts exemplified by board games and puzzles by the author of Alice in Wonderland and others, with solutions, updated information, and references. Among Gardener's many books is The Annotated Alice. Published in association with the Mathematical Association of America." Book News
"While Martin Gardner has always called himself "strictly a journalist," he should really be honored as one of this country's greatest cultural treasures." The Washington Post For the full text visit: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/21/AR2009102103700.html