Research in maths 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 maths. This book makes this connection explicit by isolating important mathematical methods, then using them to solve puzzles and prove a theorem.
The book explores the various methods employed by the Underground Railroad to assist enslaved individuals in their quest for freedom. It highlights the courageous figures who played pivotal roles in this clandestine network, showcasing their resilience and commitment to justice. Through compelling narratives, readers will gain insight into the historical significance of the Underground Railroad and the human spirit's relentless pursuit of liberty.
Collected over several years by Peter Winkler, of Bell Labs, dozens of elegant, intriguing challenges are presented in Mathematical Puzzles. The answers are easy to explain, but without this book, devilishly hard to find. Creative reasoning is the key to these puzzles. No involved computation or higher mathematics is necessary, but your ability to construct a mathematical proof will be severly tested--even if you are a professional mathematician. For the truly adventurous, there is even a chapter on unsolved puzzles.