Recreational mathematics is a term for mathematics carried out for recreation
rather than as a strictly research and application-based professional activity,
although it is not necessarily limited to being an endeavor for amateurs. It
often involves mathematical puzzles and games.
Many topics in this field require no knowledge of advanced mathematics, and
recreational mathematics often appeals to children and untrained adults,
inspiring their further study of the subject.
Topics Some of the more well-known topics in
recreational mathematics are magic squares, fractals, logic puzzles and
mathematical chess problems, but this area of mathematics includes the
aesthetics and culture of mathematics, peculiar or amusing stories and
coincidences about mathematics, and the personal lives of mathematicians.
= Mathematical games= Mathematical games are multiplayer games
whose rules, strategies, and outcomes can be studied and explained using
mathematics. The players of the game may not need to use explicit mathematics in
order to play mathematical games. For example, Mancala is a mathematical game,
because mathematicians can study it using combinatorial game theory, but no
mathematics is necessary in order to play it.
= Mathematical puzzles= Mathematical puzzles require mathematics
in order to solve them. They have specific rules, as do multiplayer games,
but mathematical puzzles don't usually involve competition between two or more
players. Instead, in order to solve such a puzzle, the solver must find a
solution that satisfies the given conditions.
Logic puzzles are a common type of mathematical puzzle. Conway's Game of
Life and fractals are also considered mathematical puzzles, even though the
solver only interacts with them by providing a set of initial conditions.
As they often include or require game-like features or thinking,
mathematical puzzles are sometimes also called mathematical games.
= 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. 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" was the title of a
long-running column on the subject by Martin Gardner, in Scientific American.
He inspired several generations of mathematicians and scientists, through
his interest in mathematical recreations. "Mathematical Games" was
succeeded by "Metamagical Themas", a similarly distinguished, but
shorter-running, column by Douglas Hofstadter, then by "Mathematical
Recreations", a column 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. In popular culture
In the episode titled "42" of the Doctor Who science fiction television series,
the Doctor completes a sequence of happy primes. He then complains that schools
no longer teach recreational mathematics.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a book about a young boy
with Asperger syndrome, discusses many mathematical games and puzzles.
People Prominent practitioners and advocates of
recreational mathematics have included: See also
Book: Recreational mathematics Journal of Recreational Mathematics
Popular mathematics Puzzle
Three cups problem References
Further reading W. W. Rouse Ball and H.S.M. Coxeter.
Mathematical Recreations and Essays, Thirteenth Edition, Dover. ISBN
0-486-25357-0. Henry E. Dudeney. 536 Puzzles and
Curious Problems. Charles Scribner's sons. ISBN 0-684-71755-7.
Sam Loyd. in Martin Gardner: The Mathematical Puzzles of Sam Loyd. Dover.
OCLC 5720955. Raymond M. Smullyan. The Lady or the
Tiger? And Other Logic Puzzles. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-286136-0.
Igor Kokcharov. Math Puzzles for MBAs. eBook for iPad. ISBN 9781623141318.
External links Recreational Mathematics from MathWorld
at Wolfram Research Mathematical treasure hunt on the
Internet by CIJM QEDcat - fun mathematical resources by
Burkard Polster and Marty Ross. mathpuzzle.com by Ed Pegg, Jr.
Puzzles of the Month by Gianni A. Sarcone
The Unreasonable Utility of Recreational Mathematics by David Singmaster
Nick's Mathematical Puzzles Cotpi Weekly Puzzles
Knot a Braid of Links Project Eureka - collection of
mathematical problems and puzzles Vi Hart's YouTube channel
A+Click: Math problems with difficulty level adapted to students' age
Online Math Games in the form of flash games
Maths based learning games