Amusements in Mathematics (Dover Recreational Math) [Paperback]

Henry E. Dudeney (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Recreational Math | Publication Date: June 1, 1958

One of the largest puzzle collections — 430 brainteasers based on algebra, arithmetic, permutations, probability, plane figure dissection, properties of numbers, etc. Intriguing, witty, paradoxical productions of one of the world's foremost creators of puzzles. Full solutions. More than 450 illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The life of Henry Ernest Dudeney is certainly one of the more interesting. Coming from a line that includes a shepherd that taught himself the elements of both astronomy and mathematics, it became clear that Henry was destined for great things. By the time he turned 9, he began to publish the puzzles and problems that he was creating in his local newspaper. This is very impressive for a young man that never attended college or got anything more than a basic education. In 1893, he began to work with Sam Loyd on creating the mathematical puzzles that he remains famous for today. Of course, some of the more interesting puzzles that were created were done by Dudeney, but Loyd took full credit for them and published these items under his own name. Up until his death, Dudeney continued to create a series of puzzles that caught the attention of the world. After his death, his wife gathered a collection of these puzzles and released the book, Puzzles and Curious Problems in 1931. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 258 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1958)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486204731
• ISBN-13: 978-0486204734
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,132,340 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing math teasers for ages 11 up, brilliantly answered, November 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Amusements in Mathematics (Dover Recreational Math) (Paperback)

This excellent collection of teasers has inferential problems in arithmetic and algebra, and includes geometry, mazes, magic squares and a lot of chess-board tours. The answers are often gems in themselves -- things mentioned in passing and left to the reader to establish -- e.g. "... of the twelve ways that eight queens can be placed on a chessboard without attacking one another..." At twelve years old I spent many an hour finding those twelve ways. There is a small problem with the age of the book, first published in 1917. You could buy an airplane for 400 pounds ($1,680) then, and the money puzzles in the first chapter assume familiarity with British pounds, shillings and pence (and ha'pennies and farthings). The Dover edition of 1958 included a preface on British coins and stamps, and another on the game of cricket, but this edition was in 8vo rather than the original quarto, making some of the diagrams very small. I received my copy in 1936, at age eleven, and have cherished it ever since. I still find challenges in it in spite of my Masters degree in Mathematical Physics!

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some Kindle deficiencies, May 10, 2010

By 

batpox "batpox" (usa) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Amusements in Mathematics (Kindle Edition)

I have this paper book, but wanted a copy for my Kindle DX. There are a few versions for the Kindle, but I shelled out a few bucks for the one that said it was optimized for larger readers.

Although it reads well, and there are illustrations, the Table of Contents doesn't work. I mean, it is there (you can see it), but it is non-functional. A bit diappointing, since I'll have to tag the locations for the chapters myself.

I think Amazon should have a bullet list when selling electronic books that tell you things like this.

I'll keep the book anyway, but there was no reason that whoever threw this up there didn't take the time to do it right.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and Instructive Collection of Mathematical Puzzles A - Must Have for Puzzle Lovers, July 19, 2006

By 

David De Sousa "The Automation and Control Guy" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amusements in Mathematics (Dover Recreational Math) (Paperback)

With 430 puzzles, problems, paradoxes, and brain teasers, this book is a mammoth puzzle collection, compared with most math teasers and puzzles book available. But what is important is not the quantity, but the quality and charm of the problems presented. Each problem is presented with a full length solutions that makes the book absolutely an instructive experience for the reader. In some cases the author even discussed on how others had attacked and failed the problems.

Additionally the book is fully illustrated with clever diagrams and sketches, which make the reading even more pleasant for everyone. You, your freinds and family will spend many hours trying the vast array of puzzles prented in this book.