All Categories
Product Description Mathematical card effects offer both beginning and experienced magicians an opportunity to entertain with a minimum of props. Featuring mostly original creations, Mathematical Card Magic: Fifty-Two New Effects presents an entertaining look at new mathematically based card tricks. Each chapter contains four card effects, generally starting with simple applications of a particular mathematical principle and ending with more complex ones. Practice a handful of the introductory effects and, in no time, you’ll establish your reputation as a "mathemagician." Delve a little deeper into each chapter and the mathematics gets more interesting. The author explains the mathematics as needed in an easy-to-follow way. He also provides additional details, background, and suggestions for further explorations. Suitable for recreational math buffs and amateur card lovers or as a text in a first-year seminar, this color book offers a diverse collection of new mathemagic principles and effects. Review "… a very innovative and detailed overview of the mathematical principles behind card magic tricks. The author begins with simple card tricks and continues with more complex ones. Each one is illustrated with pictures and detailed explanations throughout the book. However, the aim is not to teach the reader how to do the tricks in front of an audience, but instead to teach the reader why these tricks work the way they do. The necessary combinatorial and mathematical notions are explained and proofs or solution to each presented card trick are always provided. Whenever applicable, the history of each card trick is presented. In total, 52 card tricks are featured, including several created by the author. The presentation of the mathematical background at the beginning of each trick, which is then translated into a card magic trick, also demonstrates how new card tricks can be created. This high-quality, full-color edition concludes with a very useful bibliography and index."―Efstratios Rappos, Zentralblatt MATH "[This book] did not disappoint. … wonderfully organized … Mulcahy has a conversational tone throughout. However, by no means is there a loss of rigor, as he proves many of the principles that he uses. In fact, this book would make an excellent addition to any math club library, and it would provide a fun way to introduce important mathematical concepts. … wonderful, entertaining book."―Math Horizons, November 2014 "This book is a well-written window into the mathematics behind 52 new card tricks as well as an introduction to performing such tricks. The mathematics is presented clearly enough for even the novice mathematician to follow. At the same time, the card tricks are explained thoroughly enough for even a novice magician to perform. … This book will bring out the mathemagician in every reader. … a must read for anyone looking for ways to get students of all ages interested in mathematics."―Brittany Shelton, Mathematical Reviews, April 2014 "Mathematical Card Magic is a great reference for aspiring magicians who are curious about the mathematics behind card tricks. I am not a magician, nor am I an aspiring magician, but I enjoyed this book nonetheless. What I liked best was taking a peek behind the scenes of the card trick setup. … most tricks are a combination of careful dealing, careful shuffling, an astute memory, distracting the audience, and mathematics. I liked the way the book is organized. Every trick is scored on the sophistication of the underlying mathematics, how entertaining the trick is for the lay audience, how much setup is required, and how hard the trick is to perform. The author is clearly a seasoned pro. He is a skilled mathematician and an expert magician. He also has an easygoing way of explaining clever card tricks, combined with careful diagrams so that the reader can master every trick."―Kara Shane Colley, MAA Reviews, November 2013 "Printed on glossy paper with many colour illustratio