Magic Tricks, Card Shuffling and Dynamic Computer Memories (Spectrum) [Paperback]

S. Brent Morris (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0883855275 | ISBN-13: 978-0883855270 | Publication Date: January 1, 1998

Here is a book that explores the fascinating interconnections between three seemingly unrelated topics. The reader need have no specialist mathematical background to follow the text beyond high school mathematics, which makes it suitable for budding magicians and students of all ages. It is a fun book that looks at the mathematics of the perfect shuffle and develops the procedures for controlling dynamic memories and doing some clever card tricks. Each chapter begins with the description of a card trick and ends with its explanation, usually using some mathematics developed earlier. The book itself is designed as a prop for a trick, but you don't need to use mathematics or even understand it to do some 'magic'.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Provides a fascinating mix of history, mathematics and great magic tricks. I learned something on every page.' Ron Graham, Chief Scientist, AT&T

' ... essential reading for any magic buff ... anyone can read it with profit.' Martin Gardner

Book Description

Here is a book that explores the fascinating interconnections between three seemingly unrelated topics. Each chapter begins with the description of a card trick and ends with its explanation, usually using some mathematics developed earlier. The book itself is designed as a prop for a trick, but you don't need to use mathematics or even understand it to do some 'magic'.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 150 pages
• Publisher: The Mathematical Association of America (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0883855275
• ISBN-13: 978-0883855270
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,217,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Algorithms > Memory Management

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Serious mathematics when shuffling cards, June 15, 2000

By 

Sen Peng Eu "ESP=Math+Music+Literature" (Kaohsiung, Taiwan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Magic Tricks, Card Shuffling and Dynamic Computer Memories (Spectrum) (Paperback)

I accidentaly discussed the perfect shuffling problem with one of my high-school talented student recently. We found this problem very interesting, and involved many deep thoughts in mathematics. After many times of discussions my student wrote a exercise paper about the order of shuffling . So I'm very glad to found a book totally dedicated to this small mathematical gem. This book approaches the complete shuffling in many ways: first in number theory, then groups, then linear and abstract algebra and computer dimamics .Via these chapters readers will find this problem is much more deep than he had thought. Although there are many "hard" mathematics in this book, we still havesome "soft" chapters dealing with magic tricks (and it's really fun! ). This is a very good introducing book indeed, it covers recreation mathematics and serious mathematics. However, in my opinion, the pace of this book seems a bit too fast, for a non-math-major reader, those formulas look very formidable! ) It could explore those formulas in detail, and it should have contained some related topics: for example, the prime root in number theory, the combinatorics facet, etc.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Secrets of the card tricksters explained and applied, March 26, 2000

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Magic Tricks, Card Shuffling and Dynamic Computer Memories (Spectrum) (Paperback)

Written by a distinguished author, the only person to obtain a Ph. D. in card shuffling, this book is a demonstration of deterministic amazement. Which is what card tricks really are. Enclosed in a wrapper of disingenuous talk and distracting motions, a card trick is a simple exercise in movement and memory. The process driving the movement is a mathematical one and many tricks are thoroughly explained here. Although the mathematics of card shuffling is surprisingly complex, it is not impossibly so and can be understood by advanced undergraduates. With many tricks explained in detail, as even the commentary is included, aspiring magicians will also find items of interest.
Certainly one of the most interesting and recreational mathematics books published in some time, this book is almost all pure fun. It even includes some tricks within the text that you will not learn about until the end.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission.