The Colossal Book of Mathematics: Classic Puzzles, Paradoxes, and Problems

742 Pages·2001·25.76 MB·English

by  Martin Gardner

"Vinlagr Martin Gardnrr-d ..a r, (ompul h ... and a ph'a~ure to d from co er to ('o,,~
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t wor of urreali t rt: surprising, pro\(l(:ati"~ and
innurntial ror Rt'nt'l1uion, to (omt' In thi~ colle<tion
Gatdn~t lakes his timef'xplainina both thf'a~nHisaQd
tht' iOf,pirational outxro", th~ uf hi~ math("mati( all
richest pu les resuhinK in a book that is fun and
insightful.
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BN 0-393-02023-1
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ISBN 0-393-02023-1 USA $35.00
CAN. $51.00
"Newton said that his many mathematical 3l:l:omplish.
ments came because he stood on the shoulders of giants.
For those of us who have tried to make mathematics acces-
sible to a wider audienl:e, there is one giant who towers
well above anyone else: Martin Gardner."
-K E I T H DE V LIN, Stanrord University, unler ror Ih .. Study of Languag. .
and Inrormat ion; aut hor or Til,. Mal" Gmr, wi nner or t he 2000
CommuniClltions Award or the Joint Polic::y Board ror Mathematics
W
hether discussing hexaflexagon!' or nllmher theof\~
Klein bottles or the c:"sSf'ncf' of "nothing," Martin
Gardner has single-handedly creat d tht: fit: Id of '"recreational
mathematics." The Colossal R()()k ()f MntheHunics collects
togethtr Gardner's most popular pieces frorn hi. legendary
"Mathematical Games" olumn, which rdn in Scientific
American for twenty-five vt:'ars. Gardner's array ofahsorhing PU7-
zles and mind-twisting paradoxes openL IllLlthernatks up to the
world at large, inspiring people to see past numbers and funnulJs
and experience." the application of mathematical principles to the
mvstf'riolls world arounu thf'm. vVith articles on topics ran~ing
from simple algebrd to the twisting surfaces of Mobius strip.
fTom an endless game of Bulgarian ~olitair to the unre<.Kh ..l hle
dream of time travel, this volumt L'omprisc, a suhstantial and
definitive monument to Gardner's influenu' on m.ltht matles,
science, and culture.
In its twelve sections, "lhe C()/(lS5{l/ &ok of Mllthemlltics
explores a wide range of Jreas, eclch startlingly illuminated hv
Gardner's incisive expertise. Beginning with seemingly simple'
topiL"s, Gardner expertlY guides us through (omplic.lted .mel
wondrous worlds: by WdY of basic ah~ebra we \..ontempl"te the
mesmeri7ing, often hilarious, Iingui "ti( and numerical possihili
ties of palindromes; using simple geomt'try. hc dissc(tstht, pnncj·
pies ofs ymmetry upon which the renowned mathematical Jrtist
M C. F,cher constructs his unique, dizzvin univen;t'. Gdrdner,
like lew thinkers today. mdds J ngorous scientific skepticism
with a prot()und artisti( and imaginative impulse. I lis stunning
t'xplorati<.m nf"The <.. 'hurch of the Fourth l )imensinn," for exam
ple, bridges the dispJrJ te worlds of religinn .md sl'ience hy hril
liantly imJgining the spatial possihility ofGtxl\ presem:e in the
world dS a fOurth dimension, at once "t:'vervwhere and nowhere."
With hnundle s wi .. dom dnd his tradem<lrk wit, Gardner
Ie mHHlIll·d (m lUI( k II(/p)
'elr)
I. (''''''Illt'(( I,.t"" "(lHI
~l1()ws the rt>;'\d~r to nlrthf'r Fngaxt' ch(lllFnging topi\. s like proha
hilitv and gJme theory which helve plagu d clever gclmhlers, ~nd
FJmOLS mathematicians, for centuries. Whether dehunking
Paslal's wa Jer with hasic prohability. mc!kin \ isual music with
fra -tals. or uncoiling a "knotted doughnut" with introdu "tory
topology. Gardner continuollsi displays his fierce intelligence
and gentle humor I lis articles (onn-ont both the comrortinljl}
mum..lane-"Generalil.ed TIcktacktoeif and "Spn. uts and Rrussel
Sprouts" -and the quakingly ahstract-'Ilexaflt"xagons," "Nothing,"
and "Evervthing: He navigates the, e taggeringly oh clire topics
with a deft intelligenL"e and. with addendums dnd suggested read·
in lists, he mforms tht"se classIc articles With new insight
Admired by s ientists and mathemati ians, writers and
readers, Gardner's vast knowledge and burning curiosity reveal
themselves on every page. The culmination of a lifelong devotion
to the wonders ofmathemati s, The ColOS5flI &ok of Mathematics
is the largest and moc;t comprehensive rnath hook ever a~~em­
hIed hv Gardner and remams an mdispensahle volume for ama
teurs and experts alike,
MARTIN GARDNER iC\ the authofofmore than seventy hook~
ona vast rangeoftoplCs.mdudingfluisand Fallacies in the Nflm
of Science The Annotated Alice and Did Adnm and hJe Hnve
Nnvels? He wrote the "Mdthemati 'al Games" oJumn for
Scientific American for more than twentv-f1ve years and is a regular
oiumnist fi)r The Skepricnl Enquirer He lives in Hendersonvill
North ..arolina.
MCKET Of '/C;N BY OI;:BRA MORTON HO't'T
JACKET ARTC REZA ESTAKHRIANISTONE
A THOR PHUTO(;RAPIi BY OLAN MILLS
PRINTED IN THE UJ'.o1TED STATES ot-"MERI A 8-01

The
Colossal
Book of
Mathematics
}llso by Martin Gardner
Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science
Mathematics, Magic, and Mystery
Great Essays in Science (ed.)
Logic Machines and Diagrams
The Scientific American Book of Mathematical
Puzzles and Diversions
The Annotated Alice
The Second Scientific American Book of
Mathematical Puzzles and Diversions
Relativity for the Million
The Annotated Snark
The Ambidextrous Universe
The Annotated Ancient Mariner
New Mathematical Diversions from Scientific
American
The Annotated Casey at the Bat
Perplexing Puzzles and Tantalizing Teasers
The Unexpected Hanging and Other
Mathematical Diversions
Never Make Fun of a Thrtle, My Son (verse)
The Sixth Book of Mathematical Games from
Scientific American
Codes, Ciphers, and Secret Writing
Space Puzzles
The Snark Puzzle Book
The Flight of Peter Fromm (novel)
Mathematical Magic Show
More Perplexing Puzzles and Tantalizing Teasers
The Encyclopedia of Impromptu Magic
Aha! Insight
Mathematical Carnival
Science: Good, Bad, and Bogus
Science Fiction Puzzle Tales
Aha! Gotcha
Wheels, Life, and Other Mathematical
Amusements
Order and Surprise
Also by Martin Gardner
The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener
Puzzles from Other Worlds
The Magic Numbers of Dr. Matrix
Knotted Doughnuts and Other Mathematical
Entertainments
The Wreck of the Titanic Foretold?
Riddles of the Sphinx
The Annotated Innocence of Father Brown
The No-Sided Professor (short stories)
Time Travel and Other Mathematical
Bewilderments
The New Age: Notes of a Fringe Watcher
Gardner's Whys and Wherefores
Penrose Tiles to Trapdoor Ciphers
How Not to Test a Psychic
The New Ambidextrous Universe
More Annotated Alice
The Annotated Night Before Christmas
Best Remembered Poems (ed.)
Fractal Music, Hypercards, and More
The Healing Revelations of Mary Baker Eddy
Martin Gardner Presents
My Best Mathematical and Logic Puzzles
Classic Brainteasers
Famous Poems of Bygone Days (ed.)
Urantia: The Great Cult Mystery
The Universe Inside a Handkerchief
On the Wild Side
Weird Water and Fuzzy Logic
The Night Is Large
Mental Magic
The Annotated Thursday
Visitors from Oz (novel)
The Annotated Alice: The Definitive Edition
Did Adam and Eve Have Navels?

Martin Gardner
The
COLOSSAL
Classic Puzzles, Paradoxes, and Problems
Number Theory
Algebra
Geometry
Probability
Topology
Game Theory
Infinity
and other Topics
of Recreational
Mathematics
w.
W. Norton &- Company
New York· London