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. 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.
Price: $30.00