Martin Gardner Reading Group | Spring 2024

Reading Group on Martin Gardner’s Games and Puzzles

by Jyothi Krishnan

Spring 2024 (Jan/Feb)

This is a reading group based on games and puzzles described by Martin Gardner across his various books and columns. Curated and presented by Jyothi Krishnan.

You will find this course interesting if

  • you enjoy puzzles and/or games
  • you are a Martin Gardner fan
  • you are generally math-curious

We make no assumptions, although we appreciate everyone bringing their enthusiasm along :)

  1. Hexaflexagons And Other Mathematical Diversions · The First Scientific American Book of Mathematical Puzzles and Games by Martin Gardner
  2. The Second Scientific American Book Of Mathematical Puzzles And Diversions by Martin Gardner
  3. New Mathematical Diversions by Martin Gardner · The Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
  4. The Unexpected Hanging And Other Mathematical Diversions · A Classic Collection of Puzzles and Games From Scientific American · Martin Gardner
  5. The Sixth Book of Mathematical Diversions by Martin Gardner
  6. Mathematical Carnival by Martin Gardner · The Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
  7. Mathematical Magic Show by Martin Gardner · The Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
  8. Mathematical Circus by Martin Gardner · The Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
  9. The Magic Numbers of Dr. MATRIX by Martin Gardner · Prometheus Books Buffalo, New York
  10. Wheels, Life and Other Mathematical Amusements by Martin Gardner · W. H. Freeman and Company, New York
  11. Knotted Doughnuts and Other Mathematical Entertainments by Martin Gardner · W. H. Freeman and Company, New York
  12. Penrose Tiles to Trapdoor Ciphers… And the Return of Dr. Matrix by Martin Gardner · The Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
  13. Fractal Music Hypercards and More… Mathematical Recreations from SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN Magazine by Martin Gardner
  14. The Last Recreations Hydras, Eggs, and Other Mathematical Mystifications · The final collection of Martin Gardner’s Mathematical Games column from Scientific American

Will be updated.

We meet at 9PM IST on all weekdays in January except for the third week. Join via Zoom (Meeting ID: 992 2443 9902, Passcode: gardner) and sign up for reminders below.

Acknowledgements. This is a good place to clarify that this effort is led by Jyothi: many thanks to her for volunteering the idea and her time!

Links to recordings will be added below as we go along.

Date Lecture Notes Video Slides
01 Jan, 2024 #01. Tic-Tac-Toe (Vol 1, Ch 4)
02 Jan, 2024 #02. Tic-tac-toes Game (Vol 10, Ch 9)
03 Jan, 2024 #03. Generalised tic-tac-toe (Vol. 14 Ch 13)

04 Jan, 2024 #04. Nim (Vol 1, Ch 15)
05 Jan, 2024 #05. Nim and Hackenbrush (Vol 10, Ch 14)
08 Jan, 2024 #06. Wythoff Nim (Vol 13, Ch 8)
09 Jan, 2024 #07. The Game of Hex (Vol. 1, Ch 8)
10 Jan, 2024 #08. 4 unusual board games (Vol. 5, Ch 5)
11 Jan, 2024 #09. Sprouts and Brussel sprouts (Vol.6, Ch 1)
12 Jan, 2024 #10. Sim, chomp, racetrack (Vol 11, Ch 9)
15 Jan, 2024 #11. Eleusis (Vol. 2 Ch 15)
16 Jan, 2024 #12. The new Eleusis (Vol 13, Ch 16)
17 Jan, 2024 #13. Game theory, guess it, foxholes (Vol. 7, Ch 3)
18 Jan, 2024 #14. Jam, Hot and Other Games (Vol. 6, Ch 16)
19 Jan, 2024 #15. Peg solitaire (Vol. 4, Ch 11)
29 Jan, 2024 #16. The Game of Halma (Vol. 10, Ch 11)
30 Jan, 2024 #17. Bridg-it and other games (Vol. 3, Ch 18)
31 Jan, 2024 #18. Game of Life (Vol. 10, Ch 20-22)
01 Feb, 2024 #19. Game of Life (Vol. 10, Ch 20-22)
02 Feb, 2024 #20. Conway’s Surreal Numbers (Vol 13, Ch 4)
No matching items

© 2022 • Neeldhara Misra • Credits •

 

Corrections? Please leave a comment here or a PR in this repository, thanks!

I’d rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate.

George Burns

You live and you learn — at any rate, you live.

Douglas Adams

A problem worthy of attack proves its worth by fighting back.

Paul Erdos