Publisher's Synopsis
Mathematicians are well-known for their love of jokes, puzzles, puns and riddles. People who excel in the art of cold deductive reasoning also tend to find delight in a whimsical fusion of rhythm and rhyme. This original and entertaining book is for anyone who appreciates in equal parts mathematics and poetry. It brings together 26 timeless classic mathematical problems from school-level algebra, arithmetic, geometry and chess-themed combinatorics, cherished by their witty definitions and elegant solutions. Some of these problems go back centuries ago, including one attributed to Napoleon. The book adds to the allure by capturing all problem statements and solutions in a charming form of funny and imaginative poems for children. The author of the book, Vladimir Gurariy, was a respected mathematician who made numerous contributions to the fields of analytics geometry and functional analysis. Amongst his students, colleagues, friends and family Vladimir was rather famous as a performer and entertainer, always playing piano, reciting poems, telling jokes, inventing things or setting up epic pranks. He was also a hobbyist songwriter, orchestra conductor, poet and chess master. Vladimir had a great time working on this book, as it allowed him to combine almost all the things he loved - mathematics, poetry, humor and chess - into one entertaining product everyone can enjoy.
