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The Moscow Puzzles: 359 Mathematical Recreations

Boris A. Kordemsky
Publisher: 
Dover Publications
Publication Date: 
1992
Number of Pages: 
320
Format: 
Paperback
Price: 
14.95
ISBN: 
9780486270784
Category: 
General
BLL Rating: 

The Basic Library List Committee suggests that undergraduate mathematics libraries consider this book for acquisition.

[Reviewed by
Charles Ashbacher
, on
05/14/2015
]

Most of the puzzles in this collection have appeared in some form in many other publications, both in print and online. For example, number 11 is the classic, “Wolf, Goat and Cabbage” problem that can be traced back to writings in the eighth century. There are cryptarithms, designs with matches, dissections, logic problems in textual form, problems with dominoes, number crossword puzzles, puzzles involving magic squares, number puzzles and properties and a few involving chess and checkers.

Although the puzzles are generally old and have been frequently used, that is a tribute to their quality rather than an indication that they are stale and out of date. Instructors from elementary school all the way through college will be able to find items that they can use in their classes to challenge the students.

When I was in the sixth grade the math teacher posed a series of puzzles to the class and it was a competitive contest to solve them as the names of the solvers were posted on the board. All were within the capabilities of the class and we enjoyed the challenge and the thrill of solution. Some of the problems in this collection could have been used in that contest.

Study after study has demonstrated that the older person that continues to pursue mental challenges remains much more functional in the cognitive sense than the person that simply goes mentally passive. While it of course cannot solve all problems of losing mental acuity as you age, there are enough challenges in this book to help keep the neurons firing at a high level.


Charles Ashbacher splits his time between consulting with industry in projects involving math and computers, and teaching college classes. In his spare time, he reads about these things and helps his daughter in her lawn care business.

 

Introduction
  Amusing Problems
  Difficult Problems
  Geometry with Matches
  Measure Seven Times Before You Cut
  Skill Will Find Its Applications Everywhere
  Dominoes and Dice
  Properties of Nine
  With Algebra and without It
  Mathematics with Almost No Calculations
  Mathematical Games and Tricks
  Divisibility
  Cross Sums and Magic Squares
  Numbers Curious and Serious
  Numbers Ancient but Eternally Young
  Answers
  Index