The Raven's Hat: Fallen Pictures, Rising Sequences, and Other Mathematical Games

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Games that show how mathematics can solve the apparently unsolvable. Games that show how mathematics can solve the apparently unsolvable. This book presents a series of engaging games that seem unsolvable--but can be solved when they are translated into mathematical terms. How can players find their ID cards when the cards are distributed randomly among twenty boxes By applying the theory of permutations. How can a player guess the color of her own hat when she can only see other players' hats Hamming codes, which are used in communication technologies. Like magic, mathematics solves the apparently unsolvable. The games allow readers, including university students or anyone with high school-level math, to experience the joy of mathematical discovery.

Reviews

Choice 2021 Outstanding Academic Title

A book of intriguing problems that are simple to state and yet seem impossible to solve. Each problem has been carefully chosen to illustrate an important mathematical concept. The lucid explanations provide aha moments that connect the problems to key ideas in a wide variety of undergraduate courses. A wonderful book for someone who likes mathematics and likes to be challenged! Chris Bernhardt, author of Quantum Computing for Everyone

This is a fantastic book! Its full of clever and carefully constructed puzzles that will entertain any mathematically curious reader, from novice to expert.
Richard J. Samworth, Professor of Statistical Science, University of Cambridge

Author Bio

Jonas Peters is Professor of Statistics at the University of Copenhagen. Nicolai Meinshausen is Professor of Statistics at ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) in Zurich.