Fun & Fundamentals Of Mathematics by Jayant V. Narlikar, Mangala Narlikar –

This book introduces fundamental ideas in Mathematics through interesting puzzles. It is intended to get the readers interested in the subject and also convey some basic concepts. Many bright students from age 12 upwards are bored with routine class work in Maths and will enjoy these puzzles which will sharpen their logical reasoning. Thus, the subject dreaded by many can indeed be very interesting, absorbing and enjoyable, at least as much as chess or bridge The book is designed to arouse an interest in Mathematics amongst the readers, thereby serving as a supplementary text for the 12-18 age group.

Dr Jayant V Narlikar is the Director of the Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune. He is also Honorary Professor at the JNCASR, Bangalore. In a long and outstanding teaching and research career,

Dr Narlikar was associated with a number of theories and studies in modern cosmology and has worked with Fred Hoyle on the Hoyle-Narlikar Theory of Conformal Gravity. He is the author of the book Elements of Cosmology (Universities Press), and has many other books to his credit.

Dr Mangala Narlikar is an informal teacher of Mathematics.

Preface V

1. The Game of Four 4s 1

2. The Scale of 2 5

3. Some Arithmetical Titbits 15

4. On Large Numbers and Infinities 24

5. Noughts and Crosses 39

6. The Barber's Paradox 46

7. The Seventeen Rule-Breakers 55

8. Fallacies in Algebra and Geometry 66

9. Geometry with New Rules 77

10. The Seven Bridges of Konigsberg 93

11. The Mystical Mobius Strip 105

12. Four Colours Suffice 115

13. Coins, Dice, Matchsticks and All That 124

14. Mathematics and Warfare 135

15. The Impossible Ones 142

16. Limitations of Mathematics 153

17. Assorted Problems 159

18. Hints and Solutions 164

Bibliography 191

Index 192