Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This sampler of entertaining mathematical diversions reveals the elegance and extraordinary usefulness of mathematics for readers who think they have no aptitude for the subject. If you like any kind of game at all, you'll enjoy the amazing mathematical puzzles and patterns presented here in straightforward terms that any layperson can understand. From magic squares and the mysterious qualities of prime numbers to Pythagorean triples, probability theory, the Fibonacci sequence, and more, the author shows that math can be fun while having some profound implications.

Such ubiquitous mathematical entities as pi and the Fibonacci numbers are found throughout the natural world and are also the foundation of our technological civilization. By exploring the intriguing games presented here, you'll come away with a greater appreciation for the beauty and importance of these and many more math concepts.

This is the perfect book for people who were turned off by math in school but now as adults wonder what they may have missed.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Acknowledgments (p. 9)
• Introduction (p. 11)
• Chapter 1 Some Words on the Lo Shu and Other Magic Square (p. 21)
• Chapter 2 The Call of the Primes (p. 37)
• Chapter 3 Some Words on Pythagorean Triples (p. 53)
• Chapter 4 The Monty Hall Problem and Other Deceptive Puzzles in Probability Theory (p. 77)
• Chapter 5 The Fibonacci Sequence (p. 87)
• Chapter 6 The Lucas Sequence (p. 99)
• Chapter 7 The Irrational Number Phi (p. 109)
• Chapter 8 The Square Root of-1 (p. 127)
• Chapter 9 The Square Root of 2 (p. 147)
• Chapter 10 The Square Numbers (p. 171)
• Chapter 11 The Triangular Numbers (p. 191)
• Chapter 12 The Transcendental Number Known as ¿ (p. 209)
• Chapter 13 The Transcendental Number e (p. 225)
• Chapter 14 Pascal's Triangle (p. 245)
• Chapter 15 Some Strange and Remarkable Coincidences (p. 265)
• Chapter 16 Beautiful Mathematical Equations (p. 285)
• Notes (p. 299)
• Select Bibliography (p. 311)
• Index (p. 315)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Exploring the challenge of sudoku and the best strategy for winning the grand prize on Let's Make a Deal, O'Shea, a regular contributor to the Journal of Recreational Mathematics, strips away the mystique of math to reveal both its practical uses and its pleasures. Each of the book's 16 short entries exudes the playful spirit of Martin Gardner's celebrated Scientific American column, "Mathematical Games," and is sprinkled with historical tidbits: for example, the properties of "magic squares" in modern sudoku puzzles echo those once used as protective amulets and good luck charms. There's little need for more than basic addition and subtraction to follow O'Shea's discussions as he writes of TT, primes, and triangular numbers. The transcendental number e becomes much less mysterious when O'Shea demonstrates how it's used for calculating exponential growth and decay in such phenomena as compound interest, radiocarbon dating, and population growth. Similarly, the apparent magic of coincidence becomes transparent through the lens of probability theory. O'Shea's discussion is comfortably matter-of-fact and lighthearted, and each chapter ends with references for further study. Readers curious about recreational mathematics can enjoy this book without fear of getting lost in the weeds. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

CHOICE Review

The book's premise is that recreation is the best way to both teach and explore mathematics. Furthermore, asking questions and discerning patterns become the two key processes specific to mathematics and life itself. As if speaking to unmotivated readers, the author expertly uses interesting ideas from recreational mathematics to attract attention and encourage exploration. Taken primarily from number theory, these ideas include magic squares, prime number relationships, the Fibonacci sequence, the Lucas sequence, the lore of special numbers, Pascal's Triangle, and probability puzzlers (such as the Monty Hall problem and real-life coincidences). The final chapter explores the beauty of mathematics via a collection of fascinating equations. To mathematically motivated readers, these topics in recreational mathematics are well-known; however, these same readers can expect to discover some new idea or clever twist in every mathematical discussion. The book's chapters have special endnotes with author commentary and resource suggestions for further exploration. The author's goal is to tempt and engage mathematically unmotivated readers. This book can succeed if such readers will give the book a true browse. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --Jerry Johnson, Western Washington University