The Monty Hall Problem & Other Puzzles

Did you know that mathematics is the only universal language we could expect intelligent aliens to understand? So says Ivan Moscovich, the designer of these puzzles and games which provide a learning experience that he calls "recreational mathematics." The title problem, one of dozens of puzzles within this collection, is the famous Monty Hall problem, which was popularized by Marilyn vos Savant in her Parade Magazine column. While being deceptively simple, its answer is surprising and counterintuitive. You would be amazed at how many people will not accept the correct answer! This puzzle alone, along with the solver's understanding of its solution, is worth the price of the book. Interspersed among the puzzles in this collection are fascinating facts about such things as the number pi and how far a flea can jump at a single bound. The answer pages provide not only solutions, but explanations for the answers that use simple principles of mathematics. These puzzles are not just challenging and educational, but they are also a visual treat, since each puzzle has one or more colorful and beautiful illustrations. Some of these puzzles are very tricky, but that makes discovering the solution all the more rewarding. Enjoy! Eileen Rieback