Mathematical Recreations and Essays

by W.W. Rouse Ball and revised by H.S.M. Coxeter Ball, W.W. Rouse

Book Overview

"The classic work on recreational math in English."--Martin Gardner

For nearly a century, this sparkling classic has provided stimulating hours of entertainment to the mathematically inclined. The problems posed here often involve fundamental mathematical methods and notions, but their chief appeal is their capacity to tease and delight. In these pages you will find scores of "recreations" to amuse you and to challenge your problem-solving...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486253570
• ISBN13: 9780486253572
• Release Date: May 2010
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

the best there is

Any fan of mathematical puzzles will go ape over this thoroughly researched, timeless classic. Even for jaded scientists in their forties (such as me) and beyond, there's always some new gem to be discovered at the turn of a page. The scope of the book is immense, ranging from all manner of "classical" recreations to the puzzles of antiquity (e.g., squaring the circle) to the history of pi to the structure and functionality of the kaleidoscope. It's all here!

Must have for any recreational mathematician.

This is a timeless classic and a primary reference for recreational mathematicians. And the priceis unbeatable.

A Classic Compendium...

This is a classic collection of mathematical recreations. Originally written by W.W. Rouse Ball around 1900, this edition has been updated by the great geometer H.S.M. Coxeter. It is a comprehensive first source for information about magic squares, Platonic and Archimedian solids, "Knight's Tours" and other chessboard recreations, and just about any other variety of math-related puzzle you could name.For a mathematician, Coxeter is an excellent writer, and the book is quite accessible, even to relative math novices. Fans of Martin Gardner's books, of his "Scientific American" Mathematical Games columns, will want to own this. And because it's published by Dover, the price is right, too.