Robert B. Banks

Have you ever daydreamed about digging a hole to the other side of the World?
Here is the mathematical know-how to turn such fantasies into problem-solving adventures.
In this sequel to the popular Towing Icebergs, Falling Dominoes (University Press, 2000), Robert Banks presents another collection of puzzles for readers interested in sharpening their thinking and mathematical skills.
Banks chooses topics that are fairly easy to analyze using relatively simple mathematics. The phenomena he describes are ones that we encounter in our daily lives or can visualize without much trouble.
For example,
How do you determine the total number of people who have lived on earth?
How an understanding of mathematical curves can help a thrifty lover, armed with construction paper and scissors, keep expenses down on Valentine's Day.
How do you get the most pizza slices with the least number of cuts?
To go from point A to point B in a downpour of rain, should you walk slowly, jog moderately or run as fast as possible to get least wet?
If all the ice in the world melted, what would happen to Florida, the Mississippi River, and Niagara Falls?
Why do snowflakes have six sides?
Covering a broad range of fields, Banks uses basic algebra and geometry to solve problems. Designed to entertain and to stimulate thinking, this book can be read for sheer personal enjoyment.… (mehr)