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Amusements In Mathematics
The legion of H. E. Dudeney fans needs no introduction to the first American edition of this endlessly entertaining and instructive volume of mathematical amusements. New readers will be delighted with the 430 puzzles, problems, paradoxes, and brain-teasers presented by a master of mathematical ingenuity.
Virtually every sort of mathematical or logical poser is included in this extraordinary collection — problems concerning the manipulation of numbers; unicursal and route problems; moving counter puzzles; locomotion and speed problems; measuring, weighing, and packing problems; clock puzzles; combination and group problems. Greek Cross puzzles, problems involving the dissection or superimposition of plane figures, points and lines problems, joiner's problems, and crossing river problems severely test the geometrical and topological imagination. Chessboard problems, involving the dissection of the board or the placement or movement of pieces, age and kinship problems, algebraical and numerical problems, magic squares and strips, mazes, puzzle games, and problems concerning games will give you an unparalled opportunity to exercise your logical, as well as your mathematical agility.
Each problem is presented with Dudeney's unique urbane wit and sense of paradox, and each is provided with a clearly-written solution — and often with an amusing and instructive discussion of how others tried to attack it and failed. Most of the problems are original creations — but Dudeney has also included many age-old puzzlers for which he has discovered new, surprising, and usually simpler, solutions.
"Not only an amusement but a revelation … "— THE SPECTATOR.
"The best miscellaneous collection of the kind …"— NATURE.
Virtually every sort of mathematical or logical poser is included in this extraordinary collection — problems concerning the manipulation of numbers; unicursal and route problems; moving counter puzzles; locomotion and speed problems; measuring, weighing, and packing problems; clock puzzles; combination and group problems. Greek Cross puzzles, problems involving the dissection or superimposition of plane figures, points and lines problems, joiner's problems, and crossing river problems severely test the geometrical and topological imagination. Chessboard problems, involving the dissection of the board or the placement or movement of pieces, age and kinship problems, algebraical and numerical problems, magic squares and strips, mazes, puzzle games, and problems concerning games will give you an unparalled opportunity to exercise your logical, as well as your mathematical agility.
Each problem is presented with Dudeney's unique urbane wit and sense of paradox, and each is provided with a clearly-written solution — and often with an amusing and instructive discussion of how others tried to attack it and failed. Most of the problems are original creations — but Dudeney has also included many age-old puzzlers for which he has discovered new, surprising, and usually simpler, solutions.
"Not only an amusement but a revelation … "— THE SPECTATOR.
"The best miscellaneous collection of the kind …"— NATURE.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1917
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 21, 2025
If you like math puzzles it is hard to imagine a better collection. You could irritate yourself for years.
December 3, 2011
Exactly what it says it is, and very good too. Fun for nerds.
Deciptively tricky maths puzzles that you'd have to be a real nerd to enjoy. I am, and I loved it.
Each puzzle is concise and self contained meaning that the book is very dip-into-able to do a single puzzle when you're in the mood. The fact that the puzzles are in old-money (non-metric, Imperial, or English measurements) adds an extra little dimention of trickiness. The large number of puzzles means that this will keep me going for ages.
Deciptively tricky maths puzzles that you'd have to be a real nerd to enjoy. I am, and I loved it.
Each puzzle is concise and self contained meaning that the book is very dip-into-able to do a single puzzle when you're in the mood. The fact that the puzzles are in old-money (non-metric, Imperial, or English measurements) adds an extra little dimention of trickiness. The large number of puzzles means that this will keep me going for ages.
April 6, 2014
Definitely a challenge in mathematics.
March 25, 2020
This is an outstanding collection of mathematical problems and puzzles of (almost) every kind, with the solutions given at the end of the book. Some had appeared published previously and others were given here for the firts time.
Entertainment for ages.
Entertainment for ages.
June 13, 2017
Book review
Liked this book a lot. Will recommend this book to everyone. People will enjoy reading this book. Great effort by the writter
Liked this book a lot. Will recommend this book to everyone. People will enjoy reading this book. Great effort by the writter
April 13, 2016
Not too interesting
It is okay we cannot understand the questions
Even currency is given in shillings . could have been more in understandable language
It is okay we cannot understand the questions
Even currency is given in shillings . could have been more in understandable language
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews