Bonnie Averbach

Problem Solving Through Recreational Mathematics is a collection of puzzles and other mathematical problems that are solved using things like Graph Theory and other math techniques. The book contains illustrations and appears to be geared toward a younger audience, but that is only because the illustrations are cartoons of a Sherlock Holmes caricature. I have heard a lot of the theorems and ideas in this book, but that is only because I am familiar with a lot of different ideas and methods.

The book has nine chapters, all of which utilize recreational math for examples and ideas. So you might find the Cabbage-Wolf-Goat problem in one part and the Utility Network problem in another. One chapter might have no math at all, merely logic, while another is a substitution cipher. It’s a fun little jaunt through a few different fields. Two of the chapters are devoted to Games and optimal strategies to play them, and the final section is devoted to Appendices that talk about Algebraic Methods and Probability and other things.

The book is really enjoyable, and the mathematics isn’t insurmountable. Therefore, this book is well-deserving of this five-star rating.… (mere)