Let the puzzlist beware: Mathematical Bafflers will disappoint those seeking the simple, straightforward, drudge-rewarding problem; it will delight those who have despaired of a truly challenging collection of mind-teasers. Beginners are advised to look elsewhere – the 158 conundrums offered here were designed by experts for experts – and many experts were, simply, baffled.

Mathematical Bafflers gathers the prime problems from 12 years of the esteemed weekly Problematical Recreations which appeared in Aviation Week and Electronic News – periodicals read by mathematicians, engineers, computer programmers, and over the years, by serious puzzlists who herd about the special section. To keep the quality at a peak, Angela Dunn and a team of mathematicians invented their own puzzles and gleaned the best submissions from an enormous reader response. Criteria were: conceptual originality, ingenuity of approach, elegance of solution, with preference given to the kind of puzzle more vulnerable to a flash of inspiration than mere persistence. Categories include: algebra, geometry, diophantine equations, logic and deduction, probability, insight and number theory. Each chapter provides solutions to all problems plus a selection of correspondence with readers containing complaints, pleas, commentary and further speculation. Original woodcut illustrations add to the charm.

Advanced mathematical skills are only sporadically required – the majority of problems are accessible to anyone wanting the challenge. Those mentally fit enough to find 1000 consecutive non-prime numbers (pg. 164) or discover on what days of the week the first day of a new century can fall (pg. 210), apply within; all others enjoy the bafflement anyway.
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