Princeton Puzzlers⁷

Princeton Puzzlers is a series of previously published Princeton University Press books that include puzzles, conundrums, and impossibilities.

In Praise of Simple Physics: The Science and Mathematics behind Everyday Questions Paul Nahin
Fun puzzles that use physics to explore the wonders of everyday life
Digital Dice: Computational Solutions to Practical Probability Problems Paul Nahin
Some probability problems are so difficult that they stump the smartest mathematicians. But even the hardest of these problems can often be solved with a computer and a Monte Carlo simulation, in which a random-number generator...
Towing Icebergs, Falling Dominoes, and Other Adventures in Applied Mathematics Robert B. Banks
Although we seldom think of it, our lives are played out in a world of numbers. Such common activities as throwing baseballs, skipping rope, growing flowers, playing football, measuring savings accounts, and many others are inherently...
Slicing Pizzas, Racing Turtles, and Further Adventures in Applied Mathematics Robert B. Banks
Have you ever daydreamed about digging a hole to the other side of the world? Robert Banks not only entertains such ideas but, better yet, he supplies the mathematical know-how to turn fantasies into problem-solving adventures. In this...
Chases and Escapes: The Mathematics of Pursuit and Evasion Paul Nahin
We all played tag when we were kids. What most of us don't realize is that this simple chase game is in fact an application of pursuit theory, and that the same principles of games like tag, dodgeball, and hide-and-seek are also at play...
Across the Board: The Mathematics of Chessboard Problems John J. Watkins
Across the Board is the definitive work on chessboard problems. It is not simply about chess but the chessboard itself--that simple grid of squares so common to games around the world. And, more importantly, the fascinating mathematics...
Duelling Idiots and Other Probability Puzzlers Paul Nahin
What are your chances of dying on your next flight, being called for jury duty, or winning the lottery? We all encounter probability problems in our everyday lives. In this collection of twenty-one puzzles, Paul Nahin challenges us to...