From Magic Squares to Sudoku

Synopsis: This is a video recording of a talk in the LMS Popular Lectures given by Dr Emma. McCoy of Imperial College, London. She discusses the properties of Magic Squares, Latin Squares and Sudoku, showing that they are more than just a recreational pastime. The lecture celebrates continuity and evolution rather than diversity, moving from ancient to modern, simple to complex and recreational to practical. It includes useful tips for puzzle aficionados to an insight into experimental design. Dr Mcoy begins by involving her audience in a two-person game called Fifteen, which is essentially a numerical version of noughts and crosses with a winning strategy and best starting number and position. She moves on to discuss the enduring appeal of Magic Squares, which already had a broad enough appeal to appear in an Albrecht Dürer etching of 1514, and were of interest to ancient Chinese mathematicians who discovered the canonical Lo Shu Magic Square. The Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler (1707-1783) features at length as we move through the 36 Officer Problem and the role of Latin Squares in experimental design before finishing up in Königsberg.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Year of release: 2006
Year of production: 2006
Subjects: Mathematics
Keywords: history of mathematics; mathematical puzzles

Name: London Mathematical Society
Email: lms@lms.ac.uk
Web: http://www.lms.ac.uk/ External site opens in new window
Phone: 020 7637 3686
Fax: 020 7323 3655
Address: De Morgan House
57-58 Russell Square
London
WC1B 4HS
Notes: Video recordings of twice-yearly LMS Popular Lectures, which aim to present exciting topics and interesting applications to anyone with a serious interest in mathematics such as sixth form and university students. Recent lectures are for sale on DVD and older ones for hire on video.

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British Universities Film & Video Council