Magical mathematics [electronic resource] : the mathematical ideas that animate great magic tricks / Persi Diaconis and Ron Graham ; with a foreword by Martin Gardner.
2012
GV1549 .D53 2012eb
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Title
Magical mathematics [electronic resource] : the mathematical ideas that animate great magic tricks / Persi Diaconis and Ron Graham ; with a foreword by Martin Gardner.
Author
Diaconis, Persi.
ISBN
9781400839384 (electronic bk.)
9780691151649
9780691151649
Publication Details
Princeton, N. J. : Princeton University Press, 2012.
Language
English
Description
1 online resource (xii, 244 p.) : ill. (some col.)
Call Number
GV1549 .D53 2012eb
Dewey Decimal Classification
793.8/5
Summary
"Magical Mathematics reveals the secrets of amazing, fun-to-perform card tricks--and the profound mathematical ideas behind them--that will astound even the most accomplished magician. Persi Diaconis and Ron Graham provide easy, step-by-step instructions for each trick, explaining how to set up the effect and offering tips on what to say and do while performing it. Each card trick introduces a new mathematical idea, and varying the tricks in turn takes readers to the very threshold of today's mathematical knowledge. For example, the Gilbreath principle--a fantastic effect where the cards remain in control despite being shuffled--is found to share an intimate connection with the Mandelbrot set. Other card tricks link to the mathematical secrets of combinatorics, graph theory, number theory, topology, the Riemann hypothesis, and even Fermat's last theorem. Diaconis and Graham are mathematicians as well as skilled performers with decades of professional experience between them. In this book they share a wealth of conjuring lore, including some closely guarded secrets of legendary magicians. Magical Mathematics covers the mathematics of juggling and shows how the I Ching connects to the history of probability and magic tricks both old and new. It tells the stories--and reveals the best tricks--of the eccentric and brilliant inventors of mathematical magic. Magical Mathematics exposes old gambling secrets through the mathematics of shuffling cards, explains the classic street-gambling scam of three-card monte, traces the history of mathematical magic back to the thirteenth century and the oldest mathematical trick--and much more"-- Provided by publisher.
Note
Description based on print version record.
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Access Note
Access limited to authorized users.
Added Author
Graham, Ron, 1950-
Available in Other Form
Magical mathematics.
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