The Complete Book of Fun Maths

The idea of this book is to help build confidence with maths via a series of tests and puzzles. After a gentle 'warm-up' section, the puzzles and tests get progressively more challenging over the course of the book. There is a hints section for readers who get stuck, as well as a complete set of answers for every test at the back of the book.

After the 'warm-up' section, there are puzzles and tests on 'lateral thinking', 'fun with numbers', 'logic puzzles', 'geometrical puzzles' and 'difficult puzzles'. Readers will soon become familiar and comfortable with a range of tricks and tests, from magic number squares to Fibonacci numbers.

Introduction 1

Section 1 Puzzles, tricks and tests 3

Chapter 1 The work out 5

Chapter 2 Think laterally 15

Chapter 3 Test your numerical IQ 20

Chapter 4 Funumeration 38

Chapter 5 Think logically 54

Chapter 6 The logic of gambling and probability 60

Chapter 7 Geometrical puzzles 64

Chapter 8 Complexities and curiosities 71

Section 2 Hints, answers and explanations 87

Hints 89

Answers and explanations 94

Section 3 Glossary and data 143

Glossary 145

Data 152

Section 4 Appendices 157

Appendix 1 Fibonacci and nature’s use of space 159

Appendix 2 Pi 169

Appendix 3 Topology and the Mobius strip 170

Philip Carter and Ken Russell are UK MENSA Puzzle Editors and have compiled over 100 books on all aspects of testing, puzzles and crosswords. Visit The Enigmatic World of Philip Carter at www.knowl.demon.co.uk Every day our numerical skills are tested in different ways, from shopping to budgeting and bill paying. But not everyone is comfortable with numbers. The Complete Book of Fun Maths is designed to build up confidence with maths through a series of progressively more challenging tests and puzzles. There is a hints section in case you get stuck and a complete set of answers at the back of the book so you can check how you are doing.

The Complete Book of Fun Maths starts with a gentle workout in an introductory ‘limbering-up session’, and then builds into a comprehensive programme via a range of puzzles and tests on ‘lateral thinking’, ‘fun with numbers’, ‘logic puzzles’, ‘geometric puzzles’ and ‘numerical IQ tests’, among others. Soon you will be handling all kinds of maths puzzles with complete confidence!

Use this and other books in The IQ Workout Series as a fun and informative way of testing, assessing and expanding your brainpower. These books are suitable for anyone from 18 to 80 who wants to put themselves to the test. Ken Russell and Philip Carter have written over 100 books on all aspects of testing, puzzles and crosswords.