Mathematical Recreations and Essays (Dover Books on Mathematical and Word Recreations) (Paperback)

by W. W. Rouse Ball (Author), H. S. M. Coxeter (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Twelfth edition of classic work offers scores of stimulating, mind-expanding games and puzzles: arithmetical and geometrical problems, chessboard recreations, magic squares, map-coloring problems, cryptography and cryptanalysis, much more. "A must to add to your mathematics library" — The Mathematics Teacher. Index. References for Further Study. 150 black-and-white line illustrations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; 13 edition (May 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486253570
• ISBN-13: 978-0486253572
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #201,163 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #42 in

  Books > Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Math Games

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Compendium..., September 14, 2000

By	Donald Rogers (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a classic collection of mathematical recreations. Originally written by W.W. Rouse Ball around 1900, this edition has been updated by the great geometer H.S.M. Coxeter. It is a comprehensive first source for information about magic squares, Platonic and Archimedian solids, "Knight's Tours" and other chessboard recreations, and just about any other variety of math-related puzzle you could name.

For a mathematician, Coxeter is an excellent writer, and the book is quite accessible, even to relative math novices. Fans of Martin Gardner's books, of his "Scientific American" Mathematical Games columns, will want to own this. And because it's published by Dover, the price is right, too.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best there is, May 16, 2007

By	Bruce D. Wilner "Bruce David Wilner" (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Mathematical Recreations And Essays (Paperback)

Any fan of mathematical puzzles will go ape over this thoroughly researched, timeless classic. Even for jaded scientists in their forties (such as me) and beyond, there's always some new gem to be discovered at the turn of a page. The scope of the book is immense, ranging from all manner of "classical" recreations to the puzzles of antiquity (e.g., squaring the circle) to the history of pi to the structure and functionality of the kaleidoscope. It's all here!

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for any recreational mathematician., November 19, 2001

By	anon2001 "anon2001" (Kinross, Western Australia AUSTRALIA) - See all my reviews

This is a timeless classic and a primary reference
for recreational mathematicians. And the price
is unbeatable.