This is a sub-page of the large and comprehensive Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics site that is separately reviewed elsewhere on MERLOT. At the time of review this recreational mathematics area listed ten subtopics including: cryptograms, dissection, illusions, magic squares, and puzzles. A total of approximately 140 separate recreational mathematics items were included.
Please see the related reviews of the href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/PeerReviewDetail.po?rOid=1010000000000059477">main World of Mathematics site, the href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/PeerReviewDetail.po?rOid=1010000000000059482">World of Mathematics-Animations and Interactive Applets subsite, and the href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/PeerReviewDetail.po?rOid=1010000000000059486">World of Mathematics-Probability and Statistics subsite.
Type of Material:
Reference material collection.
Recommended Uses:
It could serve as a source of classroom enrichment activities in primarily introductory mathematics courses.
Technical Requirements:
Basic browser.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
This material explores interesting applications of mathematics at a recreational level.
Target Student Population:
Math students or instructors at the Liberal Arts Math level who are looking for interesting applications.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Minimal background in algebra and geometry.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
This is a large collection of applications in the liberal arts/recreational mathematics area. Typical examples include: Cryptograms?a discussion of printer errors where omission of exponents or signs still yields the correct result. Illusions?a collection of visual illusions such as the Young Girl/Old Woman example and impossible figures such as the Freemish Crate. Other subtopics include dissection, folding, games, magic squares, number guessing, numerology, puzzles and sports.
Concerns:
In general, this is a nice collection of material with some unusual examples. It is somewhat surprising that the sport category contains only three items although the bowling and triangular numbers example is a nice change from the standard baseball statistics example.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
This page will be effective for the student wishing to have access to a large collection of applications using relatively elementary mathematics. Pages feature extensive cross-linking. This page is more suited to beginning users than some other material on the parent site.
Concerns:
Some pages such as Magic Squares and Origami have a considerable amount of material. Many other pages are relatively brief and focus on definitions.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
All of the items feature links to related ideas and references. These include other pages on this site, other internet resources, and online book sellers. There is also a link to related Wolfram products.
Concerns:
None.
Creative Commons:
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