MathWorld Headline News

Recreational Math Package Released by the Makers of Mathematica

August 20, 2001--While many interesting books devoted to the subject of recreational mathematics have been authored over the years, relatively few pieces of computer software on the topic have been released. This gaping void has now been filled by Wolfram Research's package The Mathematical Explorer. The Mathematical Explorer is a stand-alone custom Mathematica product designed for anyone who has ever delighted in exploring the unexpected pleasures of mathematics. As readers of Martin Gardner's "Mathematical Games" columns are aware, one of the joys of recreational math is that no degree in higher math is necessary; a deep appreciation for the subject can be obtained with just a little basic algebra and a sense of fun.

The Mathematical Explorer represents a compilation of topics from the books and articles of Stan Wagon, noted mathematician, author, and proponent of the Mathematica technical computing system. More than just an electronic textbook, The Mathematical Explorer is part guide, part calculator, part museum, and part textbook. It combines text, graphics, and formulas in an easy-to-use Mathematica notebook interface that is completely interactive, thus allowing the reader to explore mathematical ideas rather than be relegated to the status of a static spectator.

Topics covered in The Mathematical Explorer include many that are familiar and of interest to readers of the MathWorld website, including prime numbers, calculus, formulas for computing pi, secret codes, Escher patterns, polygonal wheels, the Riemann hypothesis, and many, many more. If you are fascinated by mathematics and enjoy learning and exploring new aspects of it, then Wolfram Research's The Mathematical Explorer will likely become a welcome addition to your electronic library.