Many matchstick puzzles have multiple solutions and are ideal learning tasks for fostering and improving creative thinking. Nevertheless, many puzzle book authors exhibit a strange approach toward these multiple-solution puzzles. For some puzzles, the number of solutions is mentioned after puzzle formulation and these solutions are published in…

While the development of creativity, or creative thinking, in mathematics is considered important by many researchers, there are several difficulties in implementing creative tasks, especially before secondary school. Within the original context of a mathematical escape game, this paper reports two episodes exemplifying the difficulties met by…

There are various misconceptions students have when studied quadrilateral which encourages efforts needed to overcome these misconceptions. This study aims at overcoming misconceptions by designing learning trajectories in the topic of Quadrilateral applying the Realistic Mathematics Education (RME). Design research carried out at one of junior…

Nowadays, mathematics education providing challenging, interesting, interactive and technology-oriented learning experiences to students attracts attention both in research and practice. Among those experiences, competitions, due to their role of integrating the interest and desire of students to compete in education, challenging their potentials…

In this article, I present a collection of puzzles appropriate for use in a variety of undergraduate courses, along with suggestions for relevant discussion. Logic puzzles and riddles have long been sources of amusement for mathematicians and the general public alike. I describe the use of puzzles in a classroom setting, and argue for their use as…

The ability to examine problems using varied approaches is one of the most important characteristics of good problem solvers. Other characteristics include independence, flexibility in thinking, determination, and a willingness to take risks. By using multiple representations, students are being asked to show the same information in varied ways.…

Our research aims to identify children's communicative strategies when faced with the task of solving a geometric puzzle in CSCL contexts. We investigated how to identify and trace "distributed cognition" in problem-solving interactions based on discursive cohesion to objects, participants, and prior discursive content, and geometric and…

Current thinking suggests that solving brainteasing puzzles uses the same critical thinking skills needed to solve difficult math, science, and business problems. This book is a non-intimidating exploration of the wonderful powers of the mind with an emphasis on the joy of thinking and learning. It contains 100 puzzles, presented in order of…

Calculation of the percentage of work completed when the edges of jigsaw puzzles have been assembled provides interesting problems. (SD)

The transfer between problems having related structures was investigated. The results indicated that transfer occurred for both algebraic and puzzle problems, and significant transfer resulted when the generalization was solved first. (MP)

This publication is designed to educate high school students about the problems and challenges of transportation. The parent project was conceived as a mathematics curriculum project, but developed into an interdisciplinary project to ensure that students would become well informed regarding the transportation decisions they make. In the…

Five characteristics necessary for a computer puzzle to be considered ideal are listed along with an example of such a puzzle. Several other puzzles lacking some of these characteristics are also listed and discussed. (MN)

Twenty puzzles originally posed by Sam Loyd (1841-1911) are presented. Solutions are provided. (SD)

Provides a classification scheme for four-by-four magic squares. Presents some classroom activities. Introduces a notation system for individual cells in the square. (JM)