| 50-5647 | QA95 | 2012-24343 CIP | | Science & Technology Mathematics | | Wells, David. Games and mathematics: subtle connections. Cambridge, 2012. 246p bibl index; ISBN 9781107024601, $80.00; ISBN 9781107690912 pbk, $19.99. Reviewed in 2013jun CHOICE. | | Taking on an assumed truth, this book discusses and clearly documents the connection between playing recreational games and doing mathematics. On the one hand, Wells, author of numerous puzzle books, pushes views of mathematics far beyond that of calculation, stressing its appeal to imagination, insight, and intuition. In turn, he portrays the mathematician as a game player (observing, asking questions, and making conjectures), as a scientist (making moves, testing possibilities, generalizing), and as an observer (seeing patterns, building structure). Part 1 of the book focuses on puzzles, games, and mathematical recreations, including favorites such as chess, knight tours, Hex, network puzzles, and the Tower of Hanoi. The work becomes more interesting in part 2, which examines mathematics as a game for mathematicians; the author uses a wide range of mathematical examples (e.g., Ceva’s theorem, series, Euler line, group theory, prime numbers, and proof) to document the aspects of imagination, insight, and intuition. The last chapter uses a mathematical lens to examine the game-like features of society and culture. Complete with a consistent argument and a wealth of supportive references, this is a fun work for both game players and mathematicians to explore. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through professionals; general readers. — J. Johnson, Western Washington University |
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