Recreational math

The recreational mathematics is an area of mathematics that concentrates on obtaining results regarding ludic activities, and also the one that is dedicated to disseminating or disseminating knowledge in an entertaining and motivating way, Mathematics topics or problems.

The concept of recreational math is as old as games that involve logic or calculation in some way.

Among the people who have notably contributed to the spread of recreational mathematics in our time, Martin Gardner stands out, with books such as Unexpected Hanging and Other Mathematical Entertainment, New Mathematical Hobbies and Yákov Perelmán, who published several works on recreational mathematics, arithmetic, geometry, algebra, physics, and astronomy.

Some games typically related to recreational mathematics

1. Sudoku
2. Magic Square and alphamagic Square
3. Cube of Rubik
4. Cram Game
5. Tangram
6. Origami
7. Bear Game
8. Timbiriche or game of squares
9. Polyforms
10. Pentomin
11. Cube Soma
12. Hanoi Towers
13. Acertijos
14. Logical approach
15. Chess
16. Rithmomachia

People who have contributed to recreational mathematics

Some disseminators and inventors of recreational mathematics problems are:

Writers and creators of classic problems

• Édouard Lucas, French mathematician inventor in 1883 of the Hanoi Towers and published his series between 1882 and 1894 Récréations mathématiques.
• W. Rouse Ball, author of the Mathematical Recreations and Essays (in Spanish) Recreational mathematical games and essays) published for the first time in 1892 and whose last edition is H. S. M. Coxeter.
• Sam Loyd, American creator of numerous puzzles that he published between 1891 and 1911, gathered among other books in The riddles of Sam Loyd and New riddles of Sam Loyd.
• Henry E. Dudeney, English author of numerous puzzles and collaborator for a while from Sam Loyd.
• Yákov Perelmán, Russian writer of outreach books.

Columnists and collaborators of Scientific American magazine

• Martin Gardner, author between 1956 and 1981 of the column Mathematical Games (published in Spanish as Mathematical Games) and numerous books where the articles of the column are collected.
• Solomon W. Golomb, column collaborator Mathematical Games. In 1953 he invented the term pentominó and in 1957 an article appeared on them.
• Douglas Hofstadter, writer between 1981 and 1983 Metamagical Themas (Metamagic topics), anagram Mathematical Games.
• Alexander Keewatin Dewdney, author between 1984 and 1990 of the column Computer Recreations (Computer games).
• Ian Stewart, author of the column Mathematical Recreations from 1990 to 2001 and numerous books.

Others

• Brian Bolt
• John Horton Conway, author in 1970 of the game of life.
• Clifford A. Pickover, author of numerous recreational mathematics books.
• Raymond Smullyan, author of many books of logical problems.
• Hugo Steinhaus
• Marilyn vos Savant
• Malba Tahan, pseudonym of Julio César de Mello e Souza, author of The man I calculated.
• Lewis Carroll, English, Mathematically (ISBN 9788483106419) or A tale swept up (ISBN 84-95599-33-3).
• E. Right. Gulk of the former USSR: Recreational mathematical Games.
• The Kingdom of Ingenuity of a Russian published in 1905, and republished in Spanish by Editorial Mir.
• Hans Rademacher and Otto Toeplitz from Germany: Numbers and figures.

Authors in Spanish

• Juan Diego Sánchez Torres, Spanish mathematician and divultor, author among others Recreational mathematics (in previous edition with title Recreams), Mathematical and logical reasoning games, Board games and Mathematical Challenges for First Secondary Cycle.
• Miguel de Guzmán, Spanish mathematician, author among others Mathematical Adventures.
• Adrián Paenza, Argentine mathematician author of Math... Are you there?. Winner of the Leelavati Award at the 2014 BWI at the Seoul International Mathematical Congress.
• Mariano Mataix of Spain: The discreet charm of mathematics, Mathematical Ludopathy
• Salvador Anaya Debernard, author of the book printed in Mexico: Carousel Mathematic
• Rafael Rodríguez Vidal, Spanish: Mathematical Diversionsand Tales and accounts of mathematiciansAlmon with M.C. Rodriguez Rigual.
• Mariano Perero, Mexican, History and Mathematical Stories.
• Manuel Bernabé Flores of Spain, Mathematical Curiosities
• Victorino Ladera Pardo, Peruvian, Mathematical Games.
• Rubén Romero Méndez, Peruvian, Recreational mathematics in text and published in the journal The Press.
• Luis Ferrero, published in Venezuela in 2001: Game and Math.
• E. Kasner and J. Newman: Mathematics and Imagination.
• Elon Lages Lima: My math teacher and other stories, editor César Camacho and published in Lima by IMCA.
• Hugo Steinhaus: Instant mathematics Polish mathematician, he published it Salvat in 1987.
• Carlos Zuluaga: Colombia Learning, Colombian Mathematics, mathematical calendar foundation 2011.
• Pedro C. Contreras and Benjamin Tang. Recreational mathematics 1 Editorial UCH Lima.
• García Déniz, Manuel; Canarias-Spain; Articulist in NÚMEROS, sections of Problems and Games.
• Rupérez Padrón, José Antnonio; Canarias-Spain; Articulist in NÚMEROS, sections of Problems and Games.
• Eduardo Sáenz de Cabezón, mathematician and Spanish divultor, presenter of Órbita Laika. Author of Damn it. and mathematical apocalypse.