Amazing Math Magic Author:Oliver Ho Put your mathematical thinking cap on--because even though these puzzles are toughies, they take insight and brainwork to solve, not a knowledge of calculus or linear algebra or any other kind of advanced math. Consider for a moment: — * How can you divide a regular pentagon into five identical pentagonal shapes? — * What is the only decade in Ame... more »rican history to contain four prime-numbered years?
* What three right triangles with integer sides have areas numerically equal to twice their perimeters?
Don't worry if the answers don't spring to mind immediately; you'll have plenty of company. Compute without calculators; study the "survival of the splittest" by arithmetically analyzing a little amoeba reproduction; and investigate whether or not a rich man's children are getting a "square deal" with their inheritance. Just don't give up, because you'll have a lot of satisfaction when you figure them out.« less
When you perform the tricks in this book, you'll have people believing you can read minds, calculate huge sums quicker then lightning, and make predictions that work everytime!