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  • Adventures in Group Theory: Rubik's Cube, Merlin's Machine, and Other Mathematical Toys See large image

    Adventures in Group Theory: Rubik's Cube, Merlin's Machine, and Other Mathematical Toys (Paperback) By (author) David Joyner

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    Short Description for Adventures in Group Theory Uses mathematical toys such as the Rubik's Cube to make abstract algebra and group theory fun. This book 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 and group theory.
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  • Full bibliographic data for Adventures in Group Theory

    Title
    Adventures in Group Theory
    Subtitle
    Rubik's Cube, Merlin's Machine, and Other Mathematical Toys
    Authors and contributors
    By (author) David Joyner
    Physical properties
    Format: Paperback
    Number of pages: 328
    Width: 152 mm
    Height: 229 mm
    Thickness: 17 mm
    Weight: 431 g
    Audience
    College/higher education
    General/trade
    Language
    English
    ISBN
    ISBN 13: 9780801890130
    ISBN 10: 0801890136
    Classifications
    Dewey: 512.2
    Nielsen BookScan Product Class: S7.8
    BISAC category code: MAT025000
    BISAC category code: MAT014000
    Edition
    2, Revised
    Edition statement
    2nd Revised edition
    Publisher
    JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY PRESS
    Imprint name
    JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY PRESS
    Publication date
    05 December 2008
    Publication City/Country
    Baltimore, MD/US
    Main description
    This updated and revised edition of David Joyner’s entertaining "hands-on" tour of group theory and abstract algebra brings life, levity, and practicality to the topics through mathematical toys.Joyner uses permutation puzzles such as the Rubik’s Cube and its variants, the 15 puzzle, the Rainbow Masterball, Merlin’s Machine, the Pyraminx, and the Skewb to explain the basics of introductory algebra and group theory. Subjects covered include the Cayley graphs, symmetries, isomorphisms, wreath products, free groups, and finite fields of group theory, as well as algebraic matrices, combinatorics, and permutations.Featuring strategies for solving the puzzles and computations illustrated using the SAGE open-source computer algebra system, the second edition of Adventures in Group Theory is perfect for mathematics enthusiasts and for use as a supplementary textbook.
    Biographical note
    David Joyner is a professor of mathematics at the U.S. Naval Academy. He is coauthor of Applied Abstract Algebra, also published by Johns Hopkins, and editor of Coding Theory and Cryptography: From Enigma and Geheimschreiber to Quantum Theory.
    Review quote
    "Adventures in Group Theory is a tour through the algebra of several 'permutation puzzles'... If you like puzzles, this is a somewhat fun book. If you like algebra, this is a fun book. If you like puzzles and algebra, this is a really fun book." - MAA Online "Joyner has collated all the Rubik lore and integrated it with a self-contained introduction to group theory that equals or, more likely, exceeds what is available in typical dedicated elementary texts." - Choice "Joyner does convey some of the excitement and adventure in picking up knowledge of group theory by trying to understand Rubik's Cube. Enthusiastic students will learn a lot of mathematics from this book." - American Scientist"