Fun and games |
There are many mathematical amusements on the World-Wide Web, and some of them are even educational. Here are a few fun places to go when you need to take a break from serious work.
The Mathematical Quotations Server and the Mathematical and Educational Quotation Server both attribute the following sentiment to Siméon Poisson: "Life is good for only two things, discovering mathematics and teaching mathematics." If you do not know who Poisson was, check out the History of Mathematics Archive.
MAA Online has links to articles on teaching and learning mathematics, book reviews, and so forth.
Read about Steven Finch's Favorite Mathematical Constants, or identify your own constant with the amazing Reverse Engineering Calculator.
The Interactive Mathematics Miscellany and Puzzles and the Mathematical Games, Toys, and Puzzles sites both have recreational mathematical amusements. If you prefer more trivial pursuits, you can play Nim against a computer or test your knowledge against the Pi Trivia Game. On the other hand, if you want to think, try the Fun Facts from Harvey Mudd College or the Problem of the Week from Macalester College.
Everyone should know about Conway's game of life.
If you have a home computer, maybe you would like to join the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search (GIMPS).
The Erdös number project tells about the collaborators of the late, great Paul Erdös.
Did you know that the letters in the words "mathematical communication" can be rearranged into "comic mammal authentication"? Find out more from the Internet Anagram Server or other anagram servers listed at Yahoo.
Follow the links at Yahoo to mathematics humor, or if you are really bored, check out Yahoo's Useless Pages.
Fun and games |