Recreational mathematics
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Recreational mathematics is
The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) includes recreational mathematics as one of its seventeen Special Interest Groups, commenting:
Recreational mathematics is not easily defined because it is more than mathematics done as a diversion or playing games that involve mathematics. Recreational mathematics is inspired by deep ideas that are hidden in puzzles, games, and other forms of play. The aim of the SIGMAA on Recreational Mathematics (SIGMAA-Rec) is to bring together enthusiasts and researchers in the myriad of topics that fall under recreational math. We will share results and ideas from our work, show that real, deep mathematics is there awaiting those who look, and welcome those who wish to become involved in this branch of mathematics.[2]
Mathematical competitions (such as those sponsored by mathematical associations) are also categorized under recreational mathematics.
Topics
Some of the more well-known topics in recreational mathematics are
Mathematical games
Mathematical puzzles
As they often include or require game-like features or thinking, mathematical puzzles are sometimes also called mathematical games.
Mathemagics
Other activities
Other curiosities and pastimes of non-trivial mathematical interest include:
- patterns in juggling
- the sometimes profound algorithmic and geometrical characteristics of origami
- patterns and process in creating string figures such as Cat's cradles, etc.
- fractal-generating software
Online blogs, podcasts, and YouTube channels
There are many blogs and audio or video series devoted to recreational mathematics. Among the notable are the following:
- Cut-the-knot by Alexander Bogomolny
- Futility Closet by Greg Ross
- Mathologer by Burkard Polster
- The videos of Vi Hart
- Stand-Up Maths by Matt Parker
Publications
- The journal Eureka published by the mathematical society of the University of Cambridge is one of the oldest publications in recreational mathematics. It has been published 60 times since 1939 and authors have included many famous mathematicians and scientists such as Martin Gardner, John Conway, Roger Penrose, Ian Stewart, Timothy Gowers, Stephen Hawking and Paul Dirac.
- The Journal of Recreational Mathematics was the largest publication on this topic from its founding in 1968 until 2014 when it ceased publication.
- Mathematical Games (1956 to 1981) was the title of a long-running Scientific American column on recreational mathematics by Martin Gardner. He inspired several generations of mathematicians and scientists through his interest in mathematical recreations. "Mathematical Games" was succeeded by 25 "Metamagical Themas" columns (1981-1983), a similarly distinguished, but shorter-running, column by Douglas Hofstadter, then by 78 "Mathematical Recreations" and "Computer Recreations" columns (1984 to 1991) by A. K. Dewdney, then by 96 "Mathematical Recreations" columns (1991 to 2001) by Ian Stewart, and most recently "Puzzling Adventures" by Dennis Shasha.
- The Recreational Mathematics Magazine, published by the Ludus Association, is electronic and semiannual, and focuses on results that provide amusing, witty but nonetheless original and scientifically profound mathematical nuggets. The issues are published in the exact moments of the equinox.
People
Prominent practitioners and advocates of recreational mathematics have included professional and amateur mathematicians:
Full name | Last name | Born | Died | Nationality | Description |
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Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson) | Carroll | 1832 | 1898 | English | Mathematician, puzzlist and Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass .
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Sam Loyd | Loyd | 1841 | 1911 | American | puzzlist" by Martin Gardner.[4]
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Henry Dudeney | Dudeney | 1857 | 1930 | English | Civil servant described as England's "greatest puzzlist".[5]
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Yakov Perelman | Perelman | 1882 | 1942 | Russian | Author of many popular science and mathematics books, including Mathematics Can Be Fun. |
D. R. Kaprekar | Kaprekar | 1905 | 1986 | Indian | Discovered several results in Kaprekar's constant
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Martin Gardner | Gardner | 1914 | 2010 | American | Popular mathematics and science writer; author of Mathematical Games, a long-running Scientific American column. |
Raymond Smullyan | Smullyan | 1919 | 2017 | American | Logician; author of many logic puzzle books including "To Mock a Mockingbird". |
Joseph Madachy | Madachy | 1927 | 2014 | American | Long-time editor of Journal of Recreational Mathematics, author of Mathematics on Vacation. |
Solomon W. Golomb | Golomb | 1932 | 2016 | American | Mathematician and engineer, best known as the inventor of polyominoes .
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John Horton Conway | Conway | 1937 | 2020 | English | Mathematician and inventor of mathematical games .
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Lee Sallows | Sallows | 1944 | English | Invented self-enumerating sentences .
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See also
References
- ^ Kulkarni, D. Enjoying Math: Learning Problem Solving With KenKen Puzzles Archived 2013-08-01 at the Wayback Machine, a textbook for teaching with KenKen Puzzles.
- ^ Special Interest Groups of the MAA Mathematical Association of America
- ISBN 9789811214509.
- ISBN 0-486-20498-7
- ISBN 9780883855164.
Further reading
- ISBN 0-486-25357-0.
- ISBN 0-684-71755-7.
- OCLC 5720955.
- ISBN 0-19-286136-0.