Adventures in Group Theory Rubik's Cube, Merlin's Machine, and Other Mathematical Toys

Name: Adventures in Group Theory Rubik's Cube, Merlin's Machine, and Other Mathematical Toys
Price: 15.13 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780801890130

ISBN-10: 0801890136

ISBN-13: 9780801890130

Edition: 2nd 2008

Authors: David Joyner

List price: $35.00

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Description:

David Joyner uses mathematical toys such as the Rubik's Cube to make abstract algebra and group theory fun. Joyner employs permutation puzzles such as the 15 puzzle, the Rainbow Masterball, the Pyraminx, the Skewb, the Megaminx, Merlin's Machine, and variants of the Rubik's Cube to explain topics in introductory algebra (matrices, combinatorics, and permutations) and group theory (Cayley graphs, symmetries, isomorphisms, wreath products, free groups, and finite fields). Joyner also offers strategies for solving the puzzles. The updated second edition uses SAGE, an open-source computer algebra system, to illustrate many of the computations. Adventures in Group Theory not only appeals to math…

Book details

List price: $35.00
Edition: 2nd
Copyright year: 2008
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date: 12/29/2008
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 328
Size: 6.61" wide x 8.86" long x 0.96" tall
Weight: 1.100
Language: English



Preface


Acknowledgments


Where to begin...



Elementary, my dear Watson



'And you do addition?'



Bell ringing and other permutations



A procession of permutation puzzles



What's commutative and purple?



Welcome to the machine



'God's algorithm' and graphs



Symmetry and the Platonic solids



The illegal cube group



Words which move



The (legal) Rubik's Cube group



Squares, two-faces, and other subgroups



Other Rubik-like puzzle groups



Crossing the Rubicon



Some solution strategies



Coda: Questions and other directions


Bibliography


Index