The Inquisitive Problem Solver
Author: Paul Vaderlind
Publisher: MAA
Published: 2002-08-22
Total Pages: 348
ISBN-13: 9780883858066
DOWNLOAD EBOOKCollection of minature mathematical puzzles for students and general readers.
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Ants, Bikes, and Clocks
Author: William Briggs
Publisher: SIAM
Published: 2005-01-01
Total Pages: 174
ISBN-13: 9780898717914
DOWNLOAD EBOOKMathematics educators agree that problem solving is one of the essential skills their students should possess, yet few mathematics courses or textbooks are devoted entirely to developing this skill. Supported by narrative, examples, and exercises, Ants, Bikes, and Clocks: Problem Solving for Undergraduates is a readable and enjoyable text designed to strengthen the problem-solving skills of undergraduate students. The book, which provides hundreds of mathematical problems, gives special emphasis to problems in context, often called story problems or modeling problems, that require mathematical formulation as a preliminary step. Both analytical and computational approaches, as well as the interplay between them, are included.
Euclidean Geometry in Mathematical Olympiads
Author: Evan Chen
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
Published: 2021-08-23
Total Pages: 311
ISBN-13: 1470466201
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThis is a challenging problem-solving book in Euclidean geometry, assuming nothing of the reader other than a good deal of courage. Topics covered included cyclic quadrilaterals, power of a point, homothety, triangle centers; along the way the reader will meet such classical gems as the nine-point circle, the Simson line, the symmedian and the mixtilinear incircle, as well as the theorems of Euler, Ceva, Menelaus, and Pascal. Another part is dedicated to the use of complex numbers and barycentric coordinates, granting the reader both a traditional and computational viewpoint of the material. The final part consists of some more advanced topics, such as inversion in the plane, the cross ratio and projective transformations, and the theory of the complete quadrilateral. The exposition is friendly and relaxed, and accompanied by over 300 beautifully drawn figures. The emphasis of this book is placed squarely on the problems. Each chapter contains carefully chosen worked examples, which explain not only the solutions to the problems but also describe in close detail how one would invent the solution to begin with. The text contains a selection of 300 practice problems of varying difficulty from contests around the world, with extensive hints and selected solutions. This book is especially suitable for students preparing for national or international mathematical olympiads or for teachers looking for a text for an honor class.
Mathematical Puzzles
Author: Peter Winkler
Publisher: CRC Press
Published: 2024-06-21
Total Pages: 450
ISBN-13: 1040049516
DOWNLOAD EBOOKResearch in mathematics is much more than solving puzzles, but most people will agree that solving puzzles is not just fun: it helps focus the mind and increases one's armory of techniques for doing mathematics. Mathematical Puzzles makes this connection explicit by isolating important mathematical methods, then using them to solve puzzles and prove a theorem. This Revised Edition has been thoroughly edited to correct errors and provide clarifications, and includes some totally different solutions, modified puzzles, and one entirely new puzzle. Features A collection of the world’s best mathematical puzzles Each chapter features a technique for solving mathematical puzzles, examples, and finally a genuine theorem of mathematics that features that technique in its proof Puzzles that are entertaining, mystifying, paradoxical, and satisfying; they are not just exercises or contest problems.
The Relationship of Affect and Creativity in Mathematics
Author: Scott A. Chamberlin
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2021-09-03
Total Pages: 168
ISBN-13: 100049649X
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThe Relationship of Affect and Creativity in Mathematics explores the five legs of creativity—Iconoclasm, Impartiality, Investment, Intuition, and Inquisitiveness—as they relate to mathematical giftedness. This book: Discusses these affective components relevant to mathematical learning experiences. Shares how affective components impact students' creative processes and products. Shows the influence of learning facilitators, including teachers, afterschool mentors, and parents. Describes facilitating environments that may enhance the likelihood that creative process and ultimately product emerge. Utilizes the expertise of two young scholars to discuss the practical effects of affect and creativity in learning experiences. This practical, research-based book is a must-read for stakeholders in gifted education, as many advanced students are underidentified in the area of creativity in mathematics.
USA and International Mathematical Olympiads, 2005
Author: Zuming Feng
Publisher: MAA
Published: 2006
Total Pages: 100
ISBN-13: 9780883858233
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThe Mathematical Olympiad examinations, covering the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) and the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), have been published annually by the MAA American Mathematics Competitions since 1976. This collection of excellent problems and beautiful solutions is a valuable companion for students who wish to develop their interest in mathematics.
The Mathematics of Various Entertaining Subjects
Author: Jennifer Beineke
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 2019-04-09
Total Pages: 290
ISBN-13: 0691183473
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThe history of mathematics is filled with major breakthroughs resulting from solutions to recreational problems. Problems of interest to gamblers led to the modern theory of probability, for example, and surreal numbers were inspired by the game of Go. Yet even with such groundbreaking findings and a wealth of popular-level books exploring puzzles and brainteasers, research in recreational mathematics has often been neglected. The Mathematics of Various Entertaining Subjects brings together authors from a variety of specialties to present fascinating problems and solutions in recreational mathematics. Contributors to the book show how sophisticated mathematics can help construct mazes that look like famous people, how the analysis of crossword puzzles has much in common with understanding epidemics, and how the theory of electrical circuits is useful in understanding the classic Towers of Hanoi puzzle. The card game SET is related to the theory of error-correcting codes, and simple tic-tac-toe takes on a new life when played on an affine plane. Inspirations for the book's wealth of problems include board games, card tricks, fake coins, flexagons, pencil puzzles, poker, and so much more. Looking at a plethora of eclectic games and puzzles, The Mathematics of Various Entertaining Subjects is sure to entertain, challenge, and inspire academic mathematicians and avid math enthusiasts alike.
First Steps for Math Olympians: Using the American Mathematics Competitions
Author: J. Douglas Faires
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
Published: 2020-10-26
Total Pages: 331
ISBN-13: 1470451263
DOWNLOAD EBOOKAny high school student preparing for the American Mathematics Competitions should get their hands on a copy of this book! A major aspect of mathematical training and its benefit to society is the ability to use logic to solve problems. The American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) have been given for more than fifty years to millions of high school students. This book considers the basic ideas behind the solutions to the majority of these problems, and presents examples and exercises from past exams to illustrate the concepts. Anyone taking the AMC exams or helping students prepare for them will find many useful ideas here. But people generally interested in logical problem solving should also find the problems and their solutions interesting. This book will promote interest in mathematics by providing students with the tools to attack problems that occur on mathematical problem-solving exams, and specifically to level the playing field for those who do not have access to the enrichment programs that are common at the top academic high schools. The book can be used either for self-study or to give people who want to help students prepare for mathematics exams easy access to topic-oriented material and samples of problems based on that material. This is useful for teachers who want to hold special sessions for students, but it is equally valuable for parents who have children with mathematical interest and ability. As students' problem solving abilities improve, they will be able to comprehend more difficult concepts requiring greater mathematical ingenuity. They will be taking their first steps towards becoming math Olympians!
A Passion for Mathematics
Author: Clifford A. Pickover
Publisher: Turner Publishing Company
Published: 2011-02-25
Total Pages: 492
ISBN-13: 1118046072
DOWNLOAD EBOOKA Passion for Mathematics is an educational, entertaining trip through the curiosities of the math world, blending an eclectic mix of history, biography, philosophy, number theory, geometry, probability, huge numbers, and mind-bending problems into a delightfully compelling collection that is sure to please math buffs, students, and experienced mathematicians alike. In each chapter, Clifford Pickover provides factoids, anecdotes, definitions, quotations, and captivating challenges that range from fun, quirky puzzles to insanely difficult problems. Readers will encounter mad mathematicians, strange number sequences, obstinate numbers, curious constants, magic squares, fractal geese, monkeys typing Hamlet, infinity, and much, much more. A Passion for Mathematics will feed readers’ fascination while giving them problem-solving skills a great workout!
The Contest Problem Book IX
Author: David Wells
Publisher: American Mathematical Society
Published: 2021-02-22
Total Pages: 220
ISBN-13: 1470454912
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThis is the ninth book of problems and solutions from the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) contests. It chronicles 325 problems from the thirteen AMC 12 contests given in the years between 2001 and 2007. The authors were the joint directors of the AMC 12 and the AMC 10 competitions during that period. The problems have all been edited to ensure that they conform to the current style of the AMC 12 competitions. Graphs and figures have been redrawn to make them more consistent in form and style, and the solutions to the problems have been both edited and supplemented. A problem index at the back of the book classifies the problems into subject areas of Algebra, Arithmetic, Complex Numbers, Counting, Functions, Geometry, Graphs, Logarithms, Logic, Number Theory, Polynomials, Probability, Sequences, Statistics, and Trigonometry. A problem that uses a combination of these areas is listed multiple times. The problems on these contests are posed by members of the mathematical community in the hope that all secondary school students will have an opportunity to participate in problem-solving and an enriching mathematical experience.
