Magician Merlin Presents Unsolved Math Problems in USD Professor’s New Book

Magician Merlin Presents Unsolved Math Problems in USD Professor’s New Book

SAN DIEGO – A new book by Satyan Devadoss uses themes and characters from the mythical realm of Camelot to explore 16 of the world’s most interesting unsolved math problems. Readers of “Mage Merlin’s Unsolved Mathematical Mysteries” will share in the excitement of exploring math puzzles that even the wise magician Merlin, and the greatest mathematical minds since, couldn’t solve.

“This book offers two irresistible things to get people excited about math: a mythical setting and a hands-on journey into the unknown,” said Devadoss, co-author of the book and Fletcher Jones Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of San Diego. “Readers are invited to go math off-roading in places no one has gone before.”

The richly illustrated, story-driven volume uses characters from Camelot — King Arthur, Excalibur, the Round Table, the Holy Grail — as entry points into the puzzles, which are accessible to anyone with basic math skills.

“Math is the gatekeeper to the world of STEM, but math is a language that few people feel they can understand,” said Devadoss. “Our approach with this book is to grant everyone access to the table.”

The audience for the book includes:

  • Parents of junior high and older children looking to get their kids excited about math, or challenge those who are already excited about math.
  • Puzzle-loving audience who appreciate a physical book that encourages exploration using paper, crayons, strings, boxes and scissors.
  • Educators who are seeking ways to improve math education for K-12 and beyond.

“Mage Merlin’s Unsolved Mathematical Mysteries” by Satyan Devadoss and Matt Harvey is now available through MIT Press and can be ordered from bookstores everywhere.

Visual Assets

Satyan Devadoss photo:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dLePE7-Gkni6pKTO1b7IYjRlt1YCkSSl/view?usp=sharing

Image of book cover:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16LfEhl2LKxLGdsNTJCrZk3Cpsh304LSM/view?usp=sharing

Watch “Mage Merlin” video:
https://youtu.be/RXVYDaGySl8


About the University of San Diego

Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. With more than 8,000 students from 75 countries and 44 states, USD is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States. USD’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Knauss School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. In 2021, USD was named a “Laudato Si’ University” by the Vatican with a seven-year commitment to address humanity’s urgent challenges by working together to take care of our common home.

Contact:

Daniel Telles
dtelles@sandiego.edu
(619) 260-7862