Mathematical Solitaires And Games

A collection of solitaires and games.

A collection of solitaires and games.

For mathematical game enthusiasts, the 33-hole Peg Solitaire board presents many intriguing and difficult problems, far more fascinating than the simple problems set out in manufacturers' instructions, and behind these problems lies interesting mathematical theory. Beasley, an internationally known expert on Peg Solitaire, surveys the history of the game, shows how to play it simply and well, explains the theory behind it, and offers over 200 problems and their solutions in over 550 diagrams. Mathematical game fans aged twelve and over will find hours of enjoyment in this book.

Active engagement is the key to learning. You want your students doing something that stimulates them to ask questions and creates a need to know. Teaching Mathematics Through Games presents a variety of classroom-tested exercises and activities that provoke the active learning and curiosity that you hope to promote. These games run the gamut from well-known favorites like SET and Settlers of Catan to original games involving simulating structural inequality in New York or playing Battleship with functions. The book contains activities suitable for a wide variety of college mathematics courses, including general education courses, math for elementary education, probability, calculus, linear algebra, history of math, and proof-based mathematics. Some chapter activities are short term, such as a drop-in lesson for a day, and some are longer, including semester-long projects. All have been tested, refined, and include extensive implementation notes.

"Mind-exercising and thought-provoking."—New Scientist If playing games is natural for humans, analyzing games is equally natural for mathematicians. Even the simplest of games involves the fundamentals of mathematics, such as figuring out the best move or the odds of a certain chance event. This entertaining and wide-ranging guide demonstrates how simple mathematical analysis can throw unexpected light on games of every type—games of chance, games of skill, games of chance and skill, and automatic games. Just how random is a card shuffle or a throw of the dice? Is bluffing a valid poker strategy? How can you tell if a puzzle is unsolvable? How large a role does luck play in games like golf and soccer? This book examines each of these issues and many others, along with the general principles behind such classic puzzles as peg solitaire and Rubik's cube. Lucid, instructive, and full of surprises, it will fascinate mathematicians and gamesters alike.

RightStart Mathematics is a comprehensive math program for children that is easy to teach and provides the foundation for everyday life, for advanced math, and for science in our technological world. The research-based elementary and intermediate RightStart Mathematics program is easy to use: the lessons tell you what to teach, and how and why, day by day and year by year. This unique program uses visualization of quantities, de-emphasizes counting, and provides visual strategies (mental pictures) for memorizing the facts. Understanding is emphasized. Math needs to be taught so 95 percent is understood and only 5 percent memorized. When children don't understand, they memorize until the burden becomes too great and then they give up. When children understand, they need less time in review and practice.

The games presented here are mainly 2-person strategic board games and Solitaire Puzzles, when alone. There is a welcome difference between strategic board games and puzzles. A puzzle has a solution and once you’ve solved it, it is not that interesting any more. A strategy game can be played again and again. Chess, the “King of all Board Games”, is not included here as it forms a subject by itself, but there are a few pre-chess puzzles. Bridge, the “Queen of all Card Games”, is also not included as Card games and Dice games involve a certain element of luck; the games here are not based on chance or probability. Apart from Games and Puzzles, there is a small chapter on Mathematical Excursions. These are explorations of non mathematicians like me into the ways of thinking and understanding patterns that mathematicians visualise and analyse for sheer pleasure without any monetary or practical benefit. How can a chess knight’s move over a chess board be beneficial to anybody? But this exploration has been going on for 2000 years. Also, whereas Pythagoras’ Theorem was of great benefit to society, what will proving Fermat’s Theorem accomplish? For a mathematician, the overriding influence of numbers becomes his aim in life.