Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.