Mathematical Puzzles: A Connoisseur's Collection [Paperback]

Peter Winkler (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1568812019 | ISBN-13: 978-1568812014 | Publication Date: December 26, 2003

Collected over several years by Peter Winkler, of Bell Labs, dozens of elegant, intriguing challenges are presented in Mathematical Puzzles. The answers are easy to explain, but without this book, devilishly hard to find. Creative reasoning is the key to these puzzles. No involved computation or higher mathematics is necessary, but your ability to construct a mathematical proof will be severly tested--even if you are a professional mathematician. For the truly adventurous, there is even a chapter on unsolved puzzles.

Editorial Reviews

Review

" Winkler's book will certainly appeal to the mathematician, as well as to students of all ages—high-school, college, and graduate. His philosophy of what constitutes a good puzzle is right on the mark, showing that this Connoisseur's Collection really is of quality and depth. -James Tanton, MAA Online, September 2004
""I have gained great satisfaction from those [puzzles] I've managed to solve . . . This is a great collection of seriously hard questions."" -The Mathematical Gazette, March 2006
""As an enthusiastic solver and collector of mathematical puzzles myself, I was absolutely delighted with this book. The sheer density of mathematical ideas and challenges sets it apart from other books of a similar nature while the lucid yet informal style of exposition makes the journey from ignorance to enlightenment enjoyable."" -Norman Do, The Australian Mathematical Society Gazette, July 2004"

About the Author

Peter Winkler is Director of Fundamental Mathematics Research at Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies. Currently he is on sabbatical at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ. He is the author of 125 research papers in mathematics and holds a dozen patents in computing, cryptography, holography, optical networking, and marine navigation.

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: 175 pages
• Publisher: A K Peters/CRC Press (December 26, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568812019
• ISBN-13: 978-1568812014
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #63 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Quizzes
  • #75 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Math Games

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some of the best puzzles ever published., March 13, 2005

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mathematical Puzzles: A Connoisseur's Collection (Paperback)

I have seen the word connoisseur used to describe collections before, but when I sat down to write this review I realized that I did not know the precise usage of the term. Therefore, I pulled out my Webster's dictionary and looked it up. It was "a person who has expert knowledge and keen discrimination in some field, esp. the fine arts or in matters of taste." In terms of keen discrimination, the term applies to the puzzles in this book. They are some of the best puzzles ever published, although those who follow the field will have seen many before, although perhaps in an altered form.
However, expert knowledge is not required to understand and solve the puzzles. The level of mathematical knowledge is that of detailed knowledge of basic algebraic and reasoning techniques. Like the very best puzzles, solving them requires a bit of "sideways" thinking. In other words, the most obvious approach to a puzzle will most likely lead to bafflement, but if you look at it just the right way, the solution is obvious. Furthermore, once the inspiration arrives, you know that you indeed have the solution.
In all honesty, I struggled with many of these puzzles. Sometimes, I was just being stupid, and other times I doubt if the solution would have ever managed to form in my thoughts. Fortunately, solutions to nearly all of the problems are included. The final chapter contains unsolved puzzles, which seems like a bit of a misnomer, and in a real sense it is. These are really unsolved problems, their topic is just one that fits inside what is generally considered the puzzle genre.
I loved this book, even when I was so frustrated I wanted to chop it with my very sharp axe. These puzzles will stretch you to the breaking point, which is of course a prerequisite for being among the best ever created.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A puzzler's delight!, April 25, 2004

By 

pete "pete" - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mathematical Puzzles: A Connoisseur's Collection (Paperback)

Wow, what a splendid collection of varied and challenging puzzles - a puzzler's delight!

I especially liked the "handicap" puzzles - these are new to me, and involve algorithmic puzzles with bizarre handicaps having to do with memory.

The book also has extensive refrences so you can further your interests for a particular type of puzzle. There's even an unsolved puzzles section to challenge even the professional mathematician.

In terms of difficulty level, I would say that 2/3rds of the puzzles are meant for the seasoned puzzler and do require some "mathematical maturity" . But there are quite a few "insight" puzzles that required almost no math.

There's even geography puzzles of all things - that's quite refreshing and original for a math puzzle book.

congrats Dr. Winkler on a splendid collection!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real exercise in logical and creative thought, September 19, 2007

By 

calvinnme - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mathematical Puzzles: A Connoisseur's Collection (Paperback)

This book mainly requires that you be at ease with mathematics and mathematical terms on the level of a high school student. The solutions don't involve long calculations and calculus books. They are brain teasers that often require out-of-the-box thought and creativity. They are excellent for computer science students studying the theory of algorithms, because often the same thought process that goes into solving the more difficult problems in that field are applicable to the puzzles in this book. The puzzles can be very difficult, and several were without solution for a very long time. There is also a group of Unsolved Puzzles at the end of the book.