The Liar Paradox and the Towers of Hanoi: The Ten Greatest Math Puzzles of All Time - Softcover

Danesi, Marcel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0471648167 ISBN 13: 9780471648161

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2004

Synopsis

Paperback. Pub Date: August. 2004 Pages: 256 Publisher: John Wiley A Walk through History's MOST mind-boggling puzzles Ever since the Sphinx Asked HIS Legendary Riddle of Oedipus. Riddles. Conundrums. And Puzzles of All SIZES have. Kept humankind Perplexed and amused. The Liar Paradox and the Towers of Hanoi takes die-hard puzzle mavens on a tour of the world's most enduringly intriguing aintwisters. from Knigsberg's idges and the Hanoi Towers to Fibonacci's Rabbits. the Four Color Problem. and the Magic Square. Each chapter introduces the basic puzzle. discusses the mathematics behind it. and includes exercises and answers plus additional puzzles similar to the one under discussion. Here is a veritable kaleidoscope of puzzling labyrinths. maps. idges. and optical illusions that will keep aficionados entertained for hours. Marcel Danesi (Etobicoke. ON. Canada) is the author ...

About this title

Product Description

A walk through history′s most mind–boggling puzzles Ever since the Sphinx asked his legendary riddle of Oedipus, riddles, conundrums, and puzzles of all sizes have kept humankind perplexed and amused. The Liar Paradox and the Towers of Hanoi takes die–hard puzzle mavens on a tour of the world′s most enduringly intriguing braintwisters, from Königsberg′s Bridges and the Hanoi Towers to Fibonacci′s Rabbits, the Four Color Problem, and the Magic Square. Each chapter introduces the basic puzzle, discusses the mathematics behind it, and includes exercises and answers plus additional puzzles similar to the one under discussion. Here is a veritable kaleidoscope of puzzling labyrinths, maps, bridges, and optical illusions that will keep aficionados entertained for hours. Marcel Danesi (Etobicoke, ON, Canada) is the author of Increase Your Puzzle IQ

Review

"As an undergraduate math major, I studied various areas of mathematics as if under a sequence of microscopes. I had no clear picture of what mathematics as a whole was about. Here is a book, based on ten great puzzles, that provides that much needed view from 40,000 feet. Big concepts such as topology, combinatorics, logic, the infinite, and many others come into clear view at this altitude. For those seeking more detail, there is always the option to land and explore a host of mathematical issues, puzzles and related references. Danesi’s approach to relating difficult material is seductive." —Sam Savage, Consulting Professor, Stanford University and Inventor of the Shmuzzle™ Puzzle.

About this edition

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0471648167
• ISBN 13: 9780471648161
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256