A Glimpse to Outdoor Mathematics

          When I have started reading the book, it appeared to me the Ian Stewart was a genius because he decided to keep a notebook only for math. I didn’t even think that there is fun in mathematics or even mathematics outside school at that age. He insists that there is more than mathematics than there is inside school and to what our teachers have taught us. In that notebook of his was a collection of riddles, puzzles, games, and fun thoughts of mathematics. It was too many I think that he needed to publish this book.

            His passion of the games, puzzles, riddles about math was very emanating in the words he uses. You can really feel his excitement as he shares to you those. The book has logical puzzles, geometric puzzles, numerical puzzles, probability puzzles, and some are simply mathematical jokes. Some of these are really fun but I should admit that I couldn’t fully grasp other concepts. I like what Stewart said when math can both impress and annoy people in numerous ways. That was very true. I also would like to acknowledge his choice of words; it was understandable.

            Puzzles included in the book had answers at the latter part. It was mind boggling and annoying that the answers were not after each problem! However, it was nice that the author also included problems that are unanswered proving that mathematics is not completely done and that there is more to it, more problems and curiosities to be solved.

Though there are a lot of problems that have high level of difficulties, mathematical jokes are mixed throughout the sections of the book to uplift our spirits at times we do not understand a certain puzzle.

            The author was successful in showing lots of amusing stuffs about math, many of these we don’t know. He also tried to stimulate our curiosities about outdoor mathematics.