Mathematical Digest
Short Summaries of Articles about Mathematics
in the Popular Press"Rubik's Rubrics": Review of Adventures in Group Theory: Rubik's Cube,Merlin's Machine, and Other Mathematical Toys, by David Joyner. Reviewed byDavid Singmaster. AmericanScientist, September-October 2003, pages 468-469. This book explains the algebra behind Rubik's Cube and other mathematicalgames. Although the book begins with logic and set theory, Singmaster says thatreaders should already be familiar with these subjects in order to understandthe book. He concludes his review with, "Enthusiastic students will learn a lotof mathematics from this book but must have the sense to skip bits which gettoo hard and return to them later or discuss them with others." --- Mike Breen |
