Oval Track and Other Permutation Puzzles: And Just Enough Group Theory to Solve Them

Popular puzzles such as the Rubik’s cube and so-called oval track puzzles give a concrete representation to the theory of permutation groups. They are relatively simple to describe in group theoretic terms, yet present a challenge to anyone trying to solve them. John Kiltinen shows how the theory of permutation groups can be used to solve a range of puzzles. There is also an accompanying CD that can be used to reduce the need for carrying out long calculations and memorising difficult sequences of moves. This book will prove useful as supplemental material for students taking abstract algebra courses. It provides a real application of the theory and methods of permutation groups, one of the standard topics. It will also be of interest to anyone with an interest in puzzles and a basic grounding in mathematics. The author has provided plenty of exercises and examples to aid study.