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Title The Tower of Hanoi-- myths and maths / Andreas M. Hinz [and others] ; foreword by Ian Stewart
Published Basel ; New York : Birkhäuser, ©2013

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Description 1 online resource
Contents The Beginning of the World -- The Chinese Rings -- The Classical Tower of Hanoi -- Lucas's Second Problem -- Sierpinski Graphs -- The Tower of Hanoi with More Pegs -- Variations of the Puzzle -- The Tower of London -- Tower of Hanoi Variants with Oriented Disc Moves -- The End of the World
Summary This is the first comprehensive monograph on the mathematical theory of the solitaire game "The Tower of Hanoi" which was invented in the 19th century by the French number theorist Édouard Lucas. The book comprises a survey of the historical development from the game's predecessors up to recent research in mathematics and applications in computer science and psychology. Apart from long-standing myths it contains a thorough, largely self-contained presentation of the essential mathematical facts with complete proofs, including also unpublished material. The main objects of research today are the so-called Hanoi graphs and the related Sierpiński graphs. Acknowledging the great popularity of the topic in computer science, algorithms and their correctness proofs form an essential part of the book. In view of the most important practical applications of the Tower of Hanoi and its variants, namely in physics, network theory, and cognitive (neuro)psychology, other related structures and puzzles like, e.g., the "Tower of London", are addressed. Numerous captivating integer sequences arise along the way, but also many open questions impose themselves. Central among these is the famed Frame-Stewart conjecture. Despite many attempts to decide it and large-scale numerical experiments supporting its truth, it remains unsettled after more than 70 years and thus demonstrates the timeliness of the topic. Enriched with elaborate illustrations, connections to other puzzles and challenges for the reader in the form of (solved) exercises as well as problems for further exploration, this book is enjoyable reading for students, educators, game enthusiasts and researchers alike
Analysis Mathematics
Sequences (Mathematics)
Combinatorics
History of Mathematical Sciences
Sequences, Series, Summability
Game Theory, Economics, Social and Behav. Sciences
Algorithm Analysis and Problem Complexity
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and indexes
In Springer eBooks
Subject Mathematical recreations.
Mathematical recreations -- History
GAMES -- Sudoku.
MATHEMATICS -- Recreations & Games.
Matemáticas recreativas
Matemáticas recreativas -- Historia
Mathematical recreations
Mathematik
Methodologie
Unterhaltungsmathematik
Genre/Form History
Software.
Form Electronic book
Author Hinz, Andreas M.
ISBN 9783034802376
3034802374
3034802366
9783034802369