This book is composed of the most interesting problems from a quarter century of regional mathematics competitions for students aged 11-14 in the province of Styria, Austria. The problems presented here range from pure puzzles to a more traditional mathematical type of question, but all are somehow special, posed with the intent of giving the reader something interesting to think about, with the promise of an entertaining moment of elucidation and enlightenment at the end.

Mathematical Labyrinths. Pathfinding provides an overview of various non-standard problems and the approaches to their solutions. The essential idea is a framework laid upon the reader on how to solve nonconventional problems — particularly in the realm of mathematics and logic. It goes over the key steps in approaching a difficult problem, contemplating a plan for its solution, and discusses set of mental models to solve math problems.The book is not a routine set of problems. It is rather an entertaining and educational journey into the fascinating world of mathematical reasoning and logic. It is about finding the best path to a solution depending on the information given, asking and answering the right questions, analyzing and comparing alternative approaches to problem solving, searching for generalizations and inventing new problems. It also considers as an important pedagogical tool playing mathematical and logical games, deciphering mathematical sophisms, and interpreting mathematical paradoxes.It is suitable for mathematically talented and curious students in the age range 10-20. There are many 'Eureka'- type, out of the ordinary, fun problems that require bright idea and insight. These intriguing and thought-provoking brainteasers and logic puzzles should be enjoyable by the audience of almost any age group, from 6-year-old children to 80-year-old and older adults.

Can we correctly predict the flip of a fair coin more than half the time — or the decay of a single radioactive atom? Our intuition, based on a lifetime of experience, tells us that we cannot, as these are classic examples of what are known to be 50-50 guesses.But mathematics is filled with counterintuitive results — and this book discusses some surprising and entertaining examples. It is possible to devise experiments in which a flipped coin lands heads completely at random half the time, but we can also correctly predict when it will land heads more than half the time. The Fate of Schrodinger's Cat shows how high-school algebra and basic probability theory, with the invaluable assistance of computer simulations, can be used to investigate both the intuitive and the counterintuitive.This book explores fascinating and controversial questions involving prediction, decision-making, and statistical analysis in a number of diverse areas, ranging from whether there is such a thing as a 'hot hand' in shooting a basketball, to how we can successfully predict, more than half the time, the decay of the radioactive atom that determines the fate of Schrodinger's Cat.

David Singmaster believes in the presentation and teaching of mathematics as recreation. When the Rubik's Cube took off in 1978, based on thinly disguised mathematics, he became seriously interested in mathematical puzzles which would provide mental stimulation for students and professional mathematicians. He has not only published the standard mathematical solution for the Rubik's cube still in use today, but he has also become the de facto scribe and noted chronicler of the recreational mathematics puzzles themselves.Dr Singmaster is also an ongoing lecturer of recreational mathematics around the globe, a noted mechanical puzzle collector, owner of thousands of books related to recreational mathematical puzzles and the 'go to' source for the history of individual mathematical puzzles.This set of two books provides readers with an adventure into previously unknown origins of ancient puzzles, which could be traced back to their Medieval, Chinese, Arabic and Indian sources. The puzzles are fully described, many with illustrations, adding interest to their history and relevance to contemporary mathematical concepts. These are musings of a respected historian of recreational mathematics.

Sports analytics has gathered tremendous momentum as one of the most dynamic fields. Diving deep into the numbers of sports can be game changing or simply a fun exercise for fans. How do you get in the game with numbers? What questions can be explored? What actionable insights can be gleaned?Do you like sports? This book will detail ways to analyze athletics to gain insight that can otherwise be obscured. Like math? You'll find many mathematical topics not involving sports. You'll also see how sports analytics can train you broadly in mathematics.From coaching at the highest levels to national media broadcasts, analytics are becoming increasingly indispensable. Dive into the numbers behind soccer to basketball to baseball to boxing to swimming, dive into the numbers. Learn how to get in the game with sports and mathematics.

This book contains the most interesting problems from the first 24 years of the 'Mathematical Duel', an annual international mathematics competition between the students of four schools: the Gymnázium Mikuláše Koperníka in Bílovec, Czech Republic, the Akademicki Zespół Szkół Ogólnokształcących in Chorzów, Poland, the Bundesrealgymnasium Kepler in Graz, Austria and the Gymnázium Jakuba Škody in Přerov, Czech Republic.The problems are presented by topic, grouped under the headings Geometry, Combinatorics, Number Theory and Algebra, which is typical for olympiad-style competitions.Above all, it is of interest to students preparing for mathematics competitions as well as teachers looking for material to prepare their students, as well as mathematically interested enthusiasts from all walks of life looking for an intellectual challenge.

The art or skill of problem solving in mathematics is mostly relegated to the strategies one can use to solve problems in the field. Although this book addresses that issue, it delves deeply into the psychological aspects that affect successful problem-solving. Such topics as decision-making, judgment, and reasoning as well as using memory effectively and a discussion of the thought processes that could help address certain problem-solving situations.Most books that address problem-solving and mathematics focus on the various skills. This book goes beyond that and investigates the psychological aspects to solving problems in mathematics.