6The legion of H. E. Dudeney fans needs no introduction to the first American editionof this endlessly entertaining and instructive volume of mathematical amusements. New readerswill be delighted with the 430 puzzles, problems, paradoxes, and brain-teasers presented by a master of mathematical ingenuity.
Virtually every sort of mathematical or logical poser is included in this extraordinary collection problems concerning the manipulation of numbers; unicursal and route problems; moving counter puzzles; locomotion and speed problems; measuring, weighing, and packing problems; clock puzzles; combination and group problems. Greek Cross puzzles, problems involving the dissection or superimposition of plane figures, points and lines problems, joiner's problems, and crossing river problems severely test the geometrical and topological imagination. Chessboard problems, involving the dissection of the board or the placement or movement of pieces, age and kinshipproblems, algebraical and numerical problems, magic squares and strips, mazes, puzzle games, and problems concerning games will give you an unparalled opportunity to exercise your logical, as well as your mathematical agility.
Each problem is presented with Dudeney's unique urbane wit and senseof paradox, and each is provided with a clearly-written solution and often with an amusing and instructive discussion of how others tried to attack it and failed. Most of the problems are original creations but Dudeney has also included many age-old puzzlers for which he has discovered new, surprising, and usually simpler, solutions.
"Not only an amusement but a revelation " THE SPECTATOR.
"The best miscellaneous collection of the kind " NATURE."