| Adventures in Group Theory - Rubik's Cube, Merlin's Machine and Other Mathematical Toys (2002) |
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| From Book News, Inc. Joyner's text grew out of lecture notes designed to teach discrete mathematics and group theory to university students in an engaging, creative way. The text develops the basics of group theory and creates group-theoretical models of Rubik's Cube-like puzzles. The solution strategy for the Rubik's Cube is covered in some detail; solution strategies for similar puzzles (the 15 Puzzle, the Rubik Tetrahedron, the Rubik Dodecahedron, the Skewb, the Hockeypuck, and the Masterball) are discussed in less detail. Earlier chapters will be accessible to high school students with a strong mathematics background; later chapters are more advanced. The author's specific credentials are not given.Book News, Inc.®, Portland, OR --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. Book Description Group theory deals with symmetry, in the most abstract form possible. It is a core part of the undergraduate math curriculum, and forms part of the training of theoretical physicists and chemical crystallographers. Group theory has tended to be very dry—until now. David Joyner uses mathematical toys (primarily the Rubik’s Cube and its more modern cousins, the Megaminx, the Pyraminx, and so on) as well as other mathematical examples (e.g., bell ringing) to breathe new life into a time-honored subject. "Why," asks the author, "should two such different topics, mechanical puzzles and abstract group theory, be related? This book takes the reader on an intellectual trip to answer this curiosity." Adventures in Group Theory will not only appeal to all math enthusiasts and interested general readers but will also find use in the classroom as a wonderful supplementary text in any abstract algebra or group theory course. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. From the Publisher "This is a book on group theory that lives outside the usual rather dry regime of typical mathematics texts. In setting the book squarely among these puzzles, the underlying mathematics comes alive in quite spectacular fashion. The author achieves this goal admirably here. The text is well organized and written in an interesting and very readable manner."—Ian W. Knowles, University of Alabama --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. About the Author David Joyner is a professor of mathematics at the U.S. Naval Academy. He is coauthor of Linear Algebra with Applications and editor of Coding Theory and Cryptography: From Enigma and Geheimschreiber to Quantum Theory. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. |
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