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D**I
A continuatioon of a great series
A good typical work from Ian Stewart. I enjoy the style used in the book - short straight-forward examples, many of which can be used in a classroom. It you are familiar with Stewart's
D**S
Professor Stewart does it again!
As usual, Ian Stewart crams his books with tons of material. There is something for everyone in this publication. It is suitable for both the amateur and professional mathematician as well as anyone who is just interested in mathematics.
A**E
Wish I were that smart
Fascinating and quirky tour of math in many forms. The play on Sherlock Holmes and Watson is also very well done.
J**A
Very pleased
The book arrived well ahead of the estimated time and in perfect condition.As with all his books, very well written and thoughtful.
J**D
Who ever said that Mathematics couldn't be interesting.?
For anyone interested in Recreational Mathematics,this 2014 book by Ian Stewart is like a breath of fresh air.Stewart has already given us enough Mathematical books to fill a good sized bookcase..A list of these books is in the front of this book.Listed are 27 by Ian Stewart,5 written with Jack Cohen,and another 6 with Terry Prachtt & Jack Cohen.All of these books are what we call Mathematical Recreations. Ian is rapidely replacing the great Martin Gardner, who passed away a few years ago,and who many mathematical enthusiasts think of as "The Father of Mathematical Recreations.You may remember him for his monthly section,Mathematical Recreations, in the magazine Scientific American,which he wrote for over 25 years.Then, there were his many books on the subject. Mathematical Recreations is a far cry from what one remembers they were subjected to in school.It deals with all sorts of oddities,corundums,mysteries,puzzling concepts,and just the fun,and fascinating things that can be found occuring in the world of mathematics.Just about anyone with a high school background will have no problem understanding and enjoying as well as being fascinated with what is in this book. The book is not broken down into chapters,but into about 125 subjects that will amaze you.Just to show the wide variety of subjects included,let me name a few; Number Curiosity Narcissistic Numbers A Brief History of Sudoku Prime Number Mysteries The Opaque Square Problem Riddle of the Sands 123456789 Times X The Mousetrap Cube The Riddle of the Golden Rhombus Polygons forever The Fifteen Puzzle The Tricky Six Puzzle The Final Problem The Final Solution And that is just as taste of the many interesting things you are going to find in this book of 307 pages.All these subjects are very short ,usually a couple of pages,more or less..
B**T
Excellent book, but with some mistakes
I have read several of Stewart's book, and this one contained all the wit and intellect of the others. As I read though, I've found at least one major mistake so far. The solution to the Green Sock Caper in the back has several mistakes in it. So as you work through the book, don't take Stewart's word as law.
J**T
Exploring a series of amazing, interesting and just downright curious mathematical features and ...
I'm a big fan of Professor Stewart's books, and this one is just as you would expect if you've read either of his previous entries in this series. Exploring a series of amazing, interesting and just downright curious mathematical features and ideas, the cases contained within are sure to appeal not only to those interested in mathematics, but also to those who never got on well with numbers.Presented in a style that is clear and understandable without being condescending, you'll be challenged to read this book and not immediately start scouring the web to learn more about Mathematics, Number theory, geometry, and dozens of other fields. Unfortunately, compared to the previous two books, this one does feel a little more filled with "fluff and filler" material - with a few pages dedicated to his fictional Sherlock Holmes-style character, giving some context to the oddities and curiosities they uncover. Alongside this, if you (like me), enjoy reading through the problems and once worked out checking your answers in the back of the book, this can be a little cumbersome in the eBook edition.With the only two exceptions above, I'd strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes to learn something new, interesting, or even just quirky - and it'll be a sure-fire way to impress your friends with your new knowledge and understanding of some of the finer points of the way numbers (and the world) works.
S**A
Keeping husband busy
My husband has always loved physics and maths and this book really gets him excited. A good way to use your brain and relax (well, for him anyway).
D**Y
Sadly not his best
Not a star amongst Ian Stewart books.Attempts to dumb-down, or the publisher would claim relieve,the math by no means successful.Many of the themes well-worn
1**T
Another success.
Interested in numbers but can't do maths? Don't worry this is another page turner from Ian Stewart. It's for you!
M**5
Keeps children away from electronic equipment.
My son (13 years old) got it for Christmas and spent the whole day looking through it. It is very stimulating.
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