On January 30, 1975 Ernd Rubik j r., professor of architecture and design in Budapest, was granted the Hungarian patent number 170062 for a "terbeli logikai jatek"--A game of spatial logic. Between 1978 and March 1981 this object-Bt1vos Kocka in Hungary, der Magische Wiirfel or Zauberwiirfel in Germany, Ie Cube Hongrois in France and the Magic Cube or Rubik' s Cube in Great Britain and the USA-has sold more than ten million copies. And they were not merely sold! A highly contagious "twist mania" has been spreading throughout families, offices and waiting rooms. Many classrooms sound as if an army of mice were hard at work behind the desks. What is so fascinating about this cube, which competes with Hungar ian salami and the famous Tokajer wine in the currency-winning export market? For one thing, it is an amazing technical tool. How does it work? Moreover, the contrast between its innocent, innocuous appearance and the hidden difficulty of its solution offers a serious challenge to all puzzle fans, but especially to those mathematicians who are profeSSionally concerned with logical deduction

'More than just a memoir. A manifesto for a whole way of thinking' Daily Mail 'An idiosyncratic and gripping memoir about his life and the indomitable career of the Cube' Observer 'The rise and enduring power of the world's most popular puzzle toy . . . Cubed is less a memoir than a chronicle of Rubik's evolving relationship with his creation' Financial Times *** As a child, Erno Rubik became obsessed with puzzles of all kinds. To him, they weren't just games - they were challenges that captured his imagination, creativity and perseverance. Rubik's own puzzle went on to be solved by millions worldwide, becoming one of the bestselling toys of all time. In Cubed, he tells us the story of the unexpected and unprecedented rise of the Cube for the very first time - and makes a case for why rediscovering our playfulness and inner curiosity holds the key to creative thinking.

"[The author, a] journalist and aspiring "speedcuber," attempts to break into the international phenomenon of speedsolving the Rubik's Cube ... while exploring the greater lessons that can be learned through solving it"--Amazon.com.

The Rubik's Cube seems like an innocent, colorful and perfect gift for kids, something that will keep them busy for hours on end... Until you're faced with helping them solve it a few minutes later. That's when you realize the fiendish difficulty involved and feel a rising sense of panic as your plan backfires.

It's hard to imagine what a crowd of one billion people would look like, but if one billion children stood on each other's shoulders, they would reach past the moon! How Big Is 43 Quintillion helps readers understand large numbers by relating them to everyday situations. Simple explanations accompanied by amusing infographics help readers visualise large numbers and get a grip on basic concepts in Maths. A glossary and further reference material are also included at the end of the book.

David Joyner uses mathematical toys such as the Rubik's Cube to make abstract algebra and group theory fun. This updated second edition uses SAGE, an open-source computer algebra system, to illustrate many of the computations.