The Monty Hall Problem and Other Puzzles

by Ivan Moscovich

Overview

Television host Monty Hall used to ratchet up the suspense on his game show, "Let's Make a Deal," by offering contestants a last-minute chance to change their minds. His nail-biting, probability-based dilemma supplies the title for this intriguing book. Assembled by one of the world's top puzzle-makers, its wealth of complex but fun-filled challenges range from riddles of ancient geometry to modern issues of traffic patterns and interstellar communications.
Readers of all ages can appreciate these imaginative puzzles and their colorful characters, which include traveling salesmen, Chinese postmen, and flea circus performers. "Police Chase" examines the definition of the center of a triangle. A series of "Magic Arrow" games offer variations on the classic magic squares. And traditional topics such as Euler's problem, Ramsey theory, polar and spherical coordinates, and Golomb rulers take on fascinating new twists. A treat for the eye as well as for the mind, the puzzles are accompanied by dynamic illustrations that help define underlying mathematical concepts. Complete solutions appear at the end.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780486482408
Publisher:	Dover Publications
Publication date:	08/18/2011
Series:	Dover Recreational Math
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	12 Years

About the Author

Holocaust survivor Ivan Moscovich founded Tel Aviv's Museum of Science and Technology and Lasky Planetarium. He currently resides in Amsterdam, where he owns and operates a workshop that creates puzzles and toys, many of which have been produced commercially by Mattel, Hasbro, and other manufacturers.

Table of Contents

Inebriated insect The short and long of it Get the message? The first contact Early geometryNon-Euclidian geometryTaxicab-geometry; BianglesTaxi triangulatlonSquare route Going round in circlesAll roads lead to Local liquor Treasure hunt 9Cubic cryptogram Deliver the goods Scenic tour Right this wayArea of a circleClover 4-way.race Polygonal proofCycloid and cycling TrIangulation Police chase Bright blossms flea circusHopping mad Grasshopping Leap for homeShape Up.The game of LifeGolden handshakeA shaker's dozenLet's shake on it T-hat's magic! Island hopping Monty Hall problem 1 Monty Hall problem 2 Golomb rulersGolomb ruler: 4 markers Golomb ruler: 5 markers Golomb ruler: 6 markersDissected Golomb rulers Golomb ruler: 7 .markers Birds on a wire Zoo-logicalRamsey theory Ramsey game; Party puzzle for six Ramsey 17-gon game Ramsey 18-gonHidden polygons A whole lotto numbersEuler's problem Eulerian paths Devious doodling The right connections Chinese postman problemDoing the rounds Traveling salesman problem Chop chopCatering for the children Coordinates on a flat planeCoordinates in 3-dimensional spacePolar coordinates Spherical coordinates Coordinate craftRoyal lineageRegal processionThink of a numberMake a meal of·this Circular convergencePolygon braceletTriangle teaserFluid dynamicsGanymede circle 1Ganymede circle 2Ganymede circle 3Ganymede circle 4Colorful combination lockMagic arrows: game 1Magic arrows: game 2Magic arrows: game 3In your areaClover coverageThe eighteenth amendmentAccess all areasTo the maxOne for the birds The safe safe Window of opportunity