Can You Solve It? Three Mathematical Puzzles from Tanya Khovanova
This article from The Guardian's science column features three recreational mathematics puzzles selected by Alex Bellos from the new book 'Mathematical Puzzles and Curiosities.' The book is authored by prominent math blogger Tanya Khovanova in collaboration with Ivo David and Yogev Shpilman. The first puzzle, titled 'Battleships,' challenges readers to determine the optimal naval strategy between sending one ship with a specific success probability or two ships with half that probability each. The second puzzle, 'The Two Oracles,' involves logic and probability, asking if one can distinguish between an oracle who answers randomly and another who randomly chooses to lie or tell the truth. The final puzzle, 'Bad Maths,' explores a numerical curiosity where a student incorrectly cancels digits in a subtraction problem yet arrives at the correct answer, prompting readers to calculate how many digits remain consistent in a generalized form. The column invites readers to solve these teasers before solutions are published later in the day, highlighting the engaging and accessible nature of modern recreational mathematics.
Wire timeline
Can You Solve It? Three Mathematical Puzzles from Tanya Khovanova
This article from The Guardian's science column features three recreational mathematics puzzles selected by Alex Bellos from the new book 'Mathematical Puzzles and Curiosities.' The book is authored by prominent math blogger Tanya Khovanova in collaboration with Ivo David and Yogev Shpilman. The first puzzle, titled 'Battleships,' challenges readers to determine the optimal naval strategy between sending one ship with a specific success probability or two ships with half that probability each. The second puzzle, 'The Two Oracles,' involves logic and probability, asking if one can distinguish between an oracle who answers randomly and another who randomly chooses to lie or tell the truth. The final puzzle, 'Bad Maths,' explores a numerical curiosity where a student incorrectly cancels digits in a subtraction problem yet arrives at the correct answer, prompting readers to calculate how many digits remain consistent in a generalized form. The column invites readers to solve these teasers before solutions are published later in the day, highlighting the engaging and accessible nature of modern recreational mathematics.
The Guardian