Books with author Derrick Alderman

Give your mind a mathematical workout. Test, prod, and stretch your wits to the outer limits. Even if you’re extra clever, you might get stumped, but we guarantee you'll enjoy every minute of it! Sharpen your smarts on a combination of original puzzles, and classic teasers with new twists. Some have surprising answers, but none involve advanced math. Try this one:Many years ago, a farmer had 200 shekels with which to purchase 100 animals. Cows cost 20 shekels apiece, pigs cost 6 shekels apiece, while a sheep could be purchased for a single shekel. Assuming that he had to purchase at least one of each of the three animals, and assuming that he had to use all of his money, how many of each kind of animal did he purchase?

Who ever imagined that such a small book could add up to so much fun? It sure does, with 150 math puzzles of every imaginable type--puzzles with shapes, ones that use logic or tricks, paradoxes, and a whole lot more. (But, no calculus and trigonometry--they're off limits!) They'll challenge, intrigue, and sometimes even amuse you. Want an example of what's inside? Here's one! Playing the Liar: Four friends--Andrew, Barbara, Cindy, and Daniel--were shown a number. Here's what they had to say about that number. Andrew: It has two digits. Barbara: It goes evenly into 150. Cindy: It is not 150. Daniel: It is divisible by 25.It turns out that one (and only one) of the friends is lying. Which one is it? See how well you do--and if you run into trouble there's a hints section to help you out!

Derrick Niederman, one of Sterling's most popular puzzle authors, has come up with another collection of super-tricky math brainteasers that's great for home or the classroom. Hours of mind-bending, brain-stretching fun await solvers, who can warm up with easy problems like this, before moving on to harder and harder conundrums:Hector can run from the train station to his parents' house in eight minutes. His younger brother Darius can run the same distance eight times in one hour. Who is faster? Some of the puzzles present visual patterns to interpret, or play tricks with multiplication and division. Every one will give the brain a good workout, and improve math skills in the most enjoyable way.(Answer (small and upside down): Darius. It would take Hector 64 minutes to run the same distance Darius can in an hour.)

It's true--playing with numbers can raise your I.Q., and help you think more clearly! The most popular numbers games are math puzzles, and you've come to the right place to find 100 examples of the best. Here's an example: Find the shortcut for adding 2, 3, and 4 to form 6 different 3-digit numbers. Or, try this one: What is the smallest number that when multiplied by 3 gives an answer consisting of all 4's? Other games and puzzles involve flipping coins, burning candles, and taking apart a Rubik's cube in your head. (There's also a puzzle called Cubic's Rube.) Still others challenge you to nab a thief based on his lies, and figure out how a sheep survives in a pen with 16 very hungry but very logical lions, but would be eaten quickly if there were only 15.

It's true--playing with numbers can raise your I.Q., and help you think more clearly! The most popular numbers games are math puzzles, and you've come to the right place to find 100 examples of the best. Here's an example: Find the shortcut for adding 2, 3, and 4 to form 6 different 3-digit numbers. Or, try this one: What is the smallest number that when multiplied by 3 gives an answer consisting of all 4's? Other games and puzzles involve flipping coins, burning candles, and taking apart a Rubik's cube in your head. (There's also a puzzle called Cubic's Rube.) Still others challenge you to nab a thief based on his lies, and figure out how a sheep survives in a pen with 16 very hungry but very logical lions, but would be eaten quickly if there were only 15.