The Mathematical Coloring Book : Mathematics of Coloring and the Colorful Life of its Creators PDF
by Alexander Soifer
Description
This is a unique type of book; at least, I have never encountered a book of this kind.
The best description of it I can give is that it is a mystery novel, developing on three levels, and imbued with both educational and philosophical/moral issues.
If this summary description does not help understanding the particular character and allure of the book, possibly a more detailed explanation will be found useful.
One of the primary goals of the author is to interest readers-in particular, young mathematiciansorpossiblypre-mathematicians-inthefascinatingworldofelegant and easily understandable problems, for which no particular mathematical kno- edge is necessary, but which are very far from being easily solved.
In fact, the prototype of such problems is the following: If each point of the plane is to be given a color, how many colors do we need if every two points at unit distance are to receive distinct colors?
More than half a century ago it was established that the least number of colorsneeded for such a coloring is either 4, or 5, or 6 or 7.
Well, which is it? Despite efforts by a legion of very bright people-many of whom developed whole branches of mathematics and solved problems that seemed much harder-not a single advance towards the answer has been made.
This mystery, and scores of other similarly simple questions, form one level of mysteries explored.
In doing this, the author presents a whole lot of attractive results in an engaging way, and with increasing level of depth.
Information
-
Download - Immediately Available
- Format:PDF
- Publisher:Springer New York
- Publication Date:13/10/2008
- Category:
- ISBN:9780387746425
Other Formats
- Hardback from £169.79
- Paperback / softback from £149.99
Information
-
Download - Immediately Available
- Format:PDF
- Publisher:Springer New York
- Publication Date:13/10/2008
- Category:
- ISBN:9780387746425
