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Origami, Eleusis, and the Soma Cube: Martin Gardner's Mathematical Diversions (The New Martin Gardner Mathematical Library)
 
 
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Origami, Eleusis, and the Soma Cube: Martin Gardner's Mathematical Diversions (The New Martin Gardner Mathematical Library) [Paperback]

Martin Gardner (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Book Description

0521735246 978-0521735247 September 1, 2008 1 Reprint
Martin Gardner continues to delight readers in Origami, Eleusis, and the Soma Cube, the second volume in the new Cambridge series, The New Martin Gardner Mathematical Library, based off his enormously popular Scientific American columns. Gardner introduces young and old readers alike to the Generalized Ham Sandwich Theorem, origami, digital roots, magic squares, the mathematics of cooling coffee, the induction game of Eleusis, Dudeney puzzles, the maze at Hampton Court Palace, and many more mathematical puzzles and principles. Gardner, in consultation with experts, has added updates to all the chapters, including new game variations, mathematical proofs, and other developments and discoveries, to challenge and fascinate a new generation of readers.

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Origami, Eleusis, and the Soma Cube: Martin Gardner's Mathematical Diversions (The New Martin Gardner Mathematical Library) + Hexaflexagons, Probability Paradoxes, and the Tower of Hanoi: Martin Gardner's First Book of Mathematical Puzzles and Games (The New Martin Gardner Mathematical Library) + Sphere Packing, Lewis Carroll and Reversi (New Martin Gardner Mathematical Library)
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Martin Gardner's fifteen volumes about Mathematical Games are The Canon - timeless classics that are always worth reading and rereading."
Don Knuth

"Gardner's monthly romp through recreational math and logic ran in Scientific American for 25 years, from the Sputnik splash to the Reagan reign, and nobody has been able to match it since. "Mathematical Games" was an orgy of right-brain tomfoolery that could be approached for superficial fun or deep insight, or both at the same time...I can't think of a better present for a clever 12-year old, bored undergraduate, restless retiree, or stay-at-home parent fearing intellectual stagnation."
David Brooks, The Telegraph

"Legendary -- perhaps by now nearly mythical -- author of books about puzzles, magic, and the occult generally... The series presents not mere reprints, but second editions, in which Martin adds new twists, explanations, proofs, links to recent developments, illustrations, and other features."
Book News

"I recommend you approach this book on a Sunday afternoon, with paper and pen, a few biscuits for brain-power and a good hour to spare for puzzling. It is worth it."
Charlotte Mulcare, + plus Magazine

"If the essence of Martin Gardner could be distilled and injected into the authors of mathematics textbooks for K-12 students, it would be the end to the phrase "math is hard." No one has ever demonstrated anything close to his talents for making mathematics understandable and he once again (re)shines in this book. Although I had read many of these articles several times before I opened this book, it is an irrefutable fact that any time spent reading the math of Gardner is never unproductive."
Charles Ashbacher, Journal of Recreational Mathematics

"Gardner was a model teacher of mathematics, pushing others to take interesting side explorations, solve challenging problems, and enjoy the beauty of mathematics. Thus, this reviewer applauds the republication of his genius in "The New Martin Gardner Mathematical Library" series, complete with revised explanations, new insights, up-to-date reference links, and brief surveys of recent discoveries... it is worth getting the new editions and sharing these new gems!"
J. Johnson, Choice Magazine

"Gardner offers something for everyone. The ten chapters in this volume are a wonderful part of Martin Gardner's work, each updated with selections from the enormous correspondence he enjoyed with his readers. This collection of Gardner's writing should be a cornerstone of a personal library for mathematicians, teachers and students everywhere."
Japeth Wood, Mathematical Reviews

"One of Gardner's real strengths as a writer of popular mathematics is his ability to choose topics that will appeal to the general public while also having some real mathematical content. Like the first volume, this one is in the "must have" category."
Fernando Q. Gouvea, MAA Reviews

"Many articles may be of interest even to the (mathematically sophisticated) readers of my column since (1) they are so well written, (2) they are classic, and (3) there is often a kernel of knowledge that you didn't quite know."
William Gasarch, SIGACT News

"While Martin Gardner has always called himself "strictly a journalist," he should really be honored as one of this country's greatest cultural treasures."
The Washington Post

Book Description

Origami, Eleusis, and the Soma Cube is the second volume in Martin Gardner's New Mathematical Library, based on his enormously popular Scientific American columns. The author, in consultation with experts, has added updates to all the chapters to challenge and fascinate a new generation of readers.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 246 pages
  • Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 Reprint edition (September 1, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0521735246
  • ISBN-13: 978-0521735247
  • Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #555,393 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For 25 of his 95 years, Martin Gardner wrote 'Mathematical Games and Recreations', a monthly column for Scientific American magazine. These columns have inspired hundreds of thousands of readers to delve more deeply into the large world of mathematics. He has also made significant contributions to magic, philosophy, debunking pseudoscience, and children's literature. He has produced more than 60 books, including many best sellers, most of which are still in print. His Annotated Alice has sold more than a million copies. He continues to write a regular column for the Skeptical Inquirer magazine.

 

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Gardner is the best math writer ever, no time spent reading his work is ever wasted, May 5, 2010
This review is from: Origami, Eleusis, and the Soma Cube: Martin Gardner's Mathematical Diversions (The New Martin Gardner Mathematical Library) (Paperback)
If the essence of Martin Gardner could be distilled and injected into the authors of mathematics textbooks for K-12 students, it would be the end to the phrase "math is hard." No one has ever demonstrated anything close to his talents for making mathematics understandable and he once again (re)shines in this book. The articles are all reprints of his work that appeared in the "Mathematical Recreations" column of "Scientific American" although each now has an addendum, bibliography and answers to any questions posed in the article.
In this book, the titles of the 20 articles are:

*) The Five Platonic Solids
*) Tetraflexagons
*) Henry Ernest Dudeney: England's Greatest Puzzlist
*) Digital Roots
*) Nine Problems
*) The Soma Cube
*) Recreational Topology
*) Phi: The Golden Ratio
*) The Monkey and the Coconuts
*) Mazes
*) Recreational Logic
*) Magic Squares
*) James Hugh Riley Shows, Inc.
*) Nine More Problems
*) Eleusis: The Induction Game
*) Origami
*) Squaring the Circle
*) Mechanical Puzzles
*) Probability and Ambiguity
*) The Mysterious Dr. Matrix

Although I had read many of these articles several times before I opened this book, it is an irrefutable fact that any time spent reading the math of Gardner is never unproductive.

Published in "Journal of Recreational Mathematics" reprinted with permission

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5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Math fan, October 12, 2008
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Origami, Eleusis, and the Soma Cube: Martin Gardner's Mathematical Diversions (The New Martin Gardner Mathematical Library) (Paperback)
This is a great book! I made my first Soma set 50 years ago! I still have it! I've spent countless hours of fun with it!
Any book by Martin Gardner is good!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
soma cube, recreational logic, diabolic squares, negative coconuts, starter pile, simple squared rectangles, greatest puzzlist, digital root, coconut problem, origami constructions, mistake cards, mechanical puzzles, additive series, perfect rectangles, component squares, squared square, magic squares
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
James Egleson, Bunji Tagawa, Alex Semenoick, Squaring the Square, New York, John Montroll, The Golden Ratio, Dover Publications, The Professor, Henry Ernest Dudeney, Piet Hein, Martin Gardner, England's Greatest Puzzlist, The Mathematics Teacher, Nine Problems, Scientific American, Nine More Problems, Clifford Pickover, The Five Platonic Solids, The American Mathematical Monthly, Harold Jacobs, James Hugh Riley Shows, The Induction Game, Ace of Spades, Gardner's Workout
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
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