Mathematical Mind-Benders [Paperback]

Peter Winkler (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1568813368 | ISBN-13: 978-1568813363 | Publication Date: August 17, 2007

Peter Winkler is at it again. Following the enthusiastic reaction to Mathematical Puzzles: A Connoisseur s Collection, Peter has compiled a new collection of elegant mathematical puzzles to challenge and entertain the reader. The original puzzle connoisseur shares these puzzles, old and new, so that you can add them to your own anthology. This book is for lovers of mathematics, lovers of puzzles, lovers of a challenge. Most of all, it is for those who think that the world of mathematics is orderly, logical, and intuitive-and are ready to learn otherwise!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Thanks for sending me Peter Winkler's new book, Mathematical Mind-Benders," which I've been enjoying very much. So far my favorite puzzles are "Rolling Pencil" and "Winning at Wimbledon," which I missed myself (slapping forehead), and which have fooled everyone else I've tried them on as well." --Will Shortz, Puzzlemaster, NPR's "Weekend Edition Sunday"

"This wonderful book presents, from diverse sources and with wit and humor, many interesting and challenging problems, both mathematical and otherwise. Like its predecessor, it is a must for the shelves of a problem connoisseur." --Andy Liu

About the Author

Peter Winkler is Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, and Albert Bradley Third Century Professor in the Sciences at Dartmouth College. He has written over 125 research papers in mathematics and holds a dozen patents in computing, cryptography, holography, optical networking, and marine navigation. He is the author of Mathematical Puzzles: A Connoisseur s Collection (A K Peters Ltd., 2004). In some circles he is best known as the inventor of cryptologic methods for the game of bridge, currently illegal for tournament play in most of the western world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: A K Peters Ltd (August 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568813368
• ISBN-13: 978-1568813363
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #341,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Decent Book... there are better, November 1, 2009

By 

Cara Hubbell "The Spawn of Seitan" (Dublin, OH) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mathematical Mind-Benders (Paperback)

Mathematical Mindbenders does have a lot of math puzzles... and a lot of hard ones, which I do appreciate. However, there are enough puzzles that are riddles or trivia... and too many that are full of tricks. I thought I would give Peter Winkler a try, but I definitely prefer Martin Gardner's work. If you're looking for a good math puzzle book, try anything of Gardner's before you buy this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Specific puzzle book, January 17, 2009

By 

Kiril Reznikovsky (Raanana, Israel) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mathematical Mind-Benders (Paperback)

This puzzle book is targeted at people interested in mathematical thought and logical thinking. This is not a book for someone looking for math free logic only puzzles.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As challenging a collection of puzzles as I have ever encountered, July 15, 2008

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mathematical Mind-Benders (Paperback)

I found the puzzles in this book to be at least as, if not more, challenging than those in the other books I have read. There are no bunnies here, nearly all of them require significant thought, and some need it before you can even understand the problem. Solutions to all but those labeled as unsolved are given and there are times when I really had to think hard and long before I understood the solution.
There are some that are classic puzzles, such as the maximum possible overhang you can achieve by stacking bricks so that there is an overhang as you go up from one layer to the next. If you are looking for new mathematical mountains to scale, then this is a book for you. It is challenging, occasionally forbidding, and keeps your neurons devoted to mathematical activity firing as rapidly as is physiologically possible.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission