Magic Tricks, Card Shuffling and Dynamic Computer Memories

by S. Brent Morris

Here is a book that explores the fascinating interconnections between three seemingly unrelated topics. The reader need have no specialist mathematical background to follow the text beyond high school mathematics, which makes it suitable for budding magicians and students of all ages. It is a fun book that looks at the mathematics of the perfect shuffle and develops the procedures for controlling dynamic memories and doing some clever card tricks. Each chapter begins with the description of a card trick and ends with its explanation, usually using some mathematics developed earlier. The book itself is designed as a prop for a trick, but you don't need to use mathematics or even understand it to do some 'magic'.

Genres: Magic, Mathematics

150 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

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Reviews

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a charming and detailed mathematical exploration of the Faro shuffle (not that I knew what that was before reading the book).

my favorite quote: "My friend was not as foolish as I thought, and this fact leads us to more interesting results."

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by a distinguished author, the only person to obtain a Ph. D. in card shuffling, this book is a demonstration of deterministic amazement. Which is what card tricks really are. Enclosed in a wrapper of disingenuous talk and distracting motions, a card trick is a simple exercise in movement and memory. The process driving the movement is a mathematical one and many tricks are thoroughly explained here. Although the mathematics of card shuffling is surprisingly complex, it is not impossibly so and can be understood by advanced undergraduates. With many tricks explained in detail, as even the commentary is included, aspiring magicians will also find items of interest.
Certainly one of the most interesting and recreational mathematics books published in some time, this book is almost all pure fun. It even includes some tricks within the text that you will not learn about until the end.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission and this review appears on Amazon.