The Puzzler's Dilemma
From the Lighthouse of Alexandria to Monty Hall, a Fresh Look at Classic Conundrums of Logic, Mathematics, and Life
by Derrick Niederman
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The Puzzler's Dilemma
What makes a classic brainteaser? In The Puzzler’s Dilemma, Derrick Niederman showcases some of the most fiendish puzzles ever invented, and offers witty insights on the strategies required for solving them. (And yes, he gives solutions.)
Niederman starts with “kangaroo puzzles,” which contain clues to their answers. Here’s one: What’s represented by the sequence EOEREXNTEN? The “ten” at the end might cause you to think about numbers—which is good, because it’s a key to the solution (see below). We turn next to “knight or knave” puzzles, in which you pose questions either to a knight who always tells the truth, or a knave who always lies. Trouble is, you don’t know who’s who—but Niederman shows there is a foolproof way of posing questions that will always get you a correct answer.
Then there are lateral thinking problems: “A man walks into a bar and asks for a glass of water. The bartender takes out a gun and points it directly at the man’s head. The man says ‘thank you’ and walks out of the bar. What happened?” Even if you’ve heard that one before, Niederman’s insights are valuable.
Some problems—like the classic “15 Puzzle,” in which you are asked to slide the numbers 1 to 15 printed on tiles into numerical order in a grid—are impossible to solve, but that doesn’t diminish their timeless allure; we learn why they continue to be popular. Can you prove that after you stir your coffee, there’s one point in the coffee that’s in its original place? As we learn, the answer is yes. Finally, we ponder the classic Monty Hall problem, offering keen insight on probabilities.
From pentominoes to the Tower of Hanoi, The Puzzler’s Dilemma spotlights age-old puzzles while offering cutting-edge insights about how we solve them.
Answer: EOEREXNTEN = the last letters in the words “one” to “ten.”
Softcover : 204 pages
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) ( March 06, 2012 )
Item #: 13-521259
ISBN: 9780399537295
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.25 inches
Product Weight: 7.0 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
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