The Mathematical Coloring Book: Mathematics of Coloring and the Colorful Life of its CreatorsThis is a unique type of book; at least, I have never encountered a book of this kind. The best description of it I can give is that it is a mystery novel, developing on three levels, and imbued with both educational and philosophical/moral issues. If this summary description does not help understanding the particular character and allure of the book, possibly a more detailed explanation will be found useful. One of the primary goals of the author is to interest readers—in particular, young mathematiciansorpossiblypre-mathematicians—inthefascinatingworldofelegant and easily understandable problems, for which no particular mathematical kno- edge is necessary, but which are very far from being easily solved. In fact, the prototype of such problems is the following: If each point of the plane is to be given a color, how many colors do we need if every two points at unit distance are to receive distinct colors? More than half a century ago it was established that the least number of colors needed for such a coloring is either 4, or 5, or 6 or 7. Well, which is it? Despite efforts by a legion of very bright people—many of whom developed whole branches of mathematics and solved problems that seemed much harder—not a single advance towards the answer has been made. This mystery, and scores of other similarly simple questions, form one level of mysteries explored. In doing this, the author presents a whole lot of attractive results in an engaging way, and with increasing level of depth. |
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Contents
CXVIII | 301 |
CXX | 304 |
CXXI | 307 |
CXXII | 309 |
CXXIV | 320 |
CXXVII | 321 |
CXXVIII | 330 |
CXXIX | 334 |
XX | 32 |
XXI | 39 |
XXII | 43 |
XXVI | 44 |
XXVII | 47 |
XXVIII | 50 |
XXIX | 57 |
XXX | 60 |
XXXII | 65 |
XXXIII | 67 |
XXXIV | 72 |
XXXV | 77 |
XXXVI | 79 |
XXXVIII | 82 |
XXXIX | 86 |
XL | 88 |
XLI | 93 |
XLII | 99 |
XLIV | 101 |
XLV | 102 |
XLVII | 104 |
XLIX | 106 |
L | 107 |
LI | 108 |
LII | 110 |
LIII | 111 |
LIV | 116 |
LV | 117 |
LVI | 121 |
LVII | 124 |
LVIII | 127 |
LX | 135 |
LXI | 140 |
LXII | 145 |
LXIII | 147 |
LXV | 156 |
LXVI | 158 |
LXVII | 161 |
LXVIII | 163 |
LXIX | 165 |
LXX | 168 |
LXXI | 173 |
LXXII | 176 |
LXXIV | 180 |
LXXVI | 182 |
LXXVIII | 185 |
LXXIX | 187 |
LXXXI | 195 |
LXXXIII | 199 |
LXXXIV | 205 |
LXXXV | 207 |
LXXXVI | 209 |
LXXXIX | 211 |
XC | 224 |
XCI | 227 |
XCII | 228 |
XCIII | 230 |
XCIV | 236 |
XCVI | 239 |
XCVII | 242 |
CI | 256 |
CII | 261 |
CIII | 262 |
CIV | 267 |
CV | 268 |
CVII | 272 |
CVIII | 277 |
CIX | 280 |
CX | 281 |
CXII | 291 |
CXIII | 297 |
CXV | 299 |
CXXX | 336 |
CXXXI | 340 |
CXXXII | 346 |
CXXXIII | 347 |
CXXXV | 348 |
CXXXVI | 350 |
CXXXVII | 353 |
CXXXVIII | 356 |
CXXXIX | 358 |
CXL | 360 |
CXLI | 366 |
CXLII | 367 |
CXLIV | 369 |
CXLV | 373 |
CXLVI | 377 |
CXLVII | 380 |
CXLVIII | 383 |
CXLIX | 385 |
CL | 386 |
CLI | 387 |
CLII | 392 |
CLIII | 393 |
CLVI | 394 |
CLVII | 406 |
CLVIII | 416 |
CLIX | 418 |
CLXII | 421 |
CLXIII | 427 |
CLXIV | 434 |
CLXV | 446 |
CLXVI | 449 |
CLXVIII | 458 |
CLXIX | 462 |
CLXX | 465 |
CLXXI | 472 |
CLXXII | 474 |
CLXXIII | 480 |
CLXXIV | 484 |
CLXXVII | 487 |
CLXXIX | 500 |
CLXXXII | 505 |
CLXXXIII | 509 |
CLXXXV | 514 |
CLXXXVI | 516 |
CLXXXVII | 517 |
CLXXXVIII | 519 |
CLXXXIX | 521 |
CXCI | 525 |
CXCII | 529 |
CXCIII | 530 |
CXCIV | 532 |
CXCV | 535 |
CXCVII | 537 |
CXCVIII | 540 |
CXCIX | 543 |
CC | 544 |
CCI | 546 |
CCII | 550 |
CCIII | 553 |
CCV | 554 |
CCVI | 555 |
CCVII | 557 |
CCX | 560 |
CCXI | 562 |
CCXII | 564 |
CCXIII | 567 |
569 | |
595 | |
603 | |
CCXVIII | 606 |
Other editions - View all
The Mathematical Coloring Book: Mathematics of Coloring and the Colorful ... Alexander Soifer No preview available - 2014 |
The Mathematical Coloring Book: Mathematics of Coloring and the Colorful ... Alexander Soifer No preview available - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
2-colored algebra allowed Amsterdam appeared appointment arithmetic asked Assume attached authors axioms Baudet believe blue bound called Chapter chromatic number closed color complete configurations conjecture connected consider construction contains course created cycle define discussed Dutch edges example exists fact finite foundation four German give given graph G idea important infinite interest later least Leipzig length letter look mathematicians mathematics monochromatic Nazi Netherlands offer original Paul Erd˝os person plane points positive integer possible present problem Prof Professor progression proof proved publication published question Ramsey result Schur side Soifer solution student subset talk term Theorem theory Tool triangle true unit distance University Van der Waerden vertex vertices Waerden write wrote