Some of the more well-known topics in recreational mathematics are
Rubik's Cubes,
magic squares,
fractals,
logic puzzles and
mathematical chess problems, but this area of mathematics includes the
aesthetics and
culture of mathematics, peculiar or amusing stories and
coincidences about mathematics, and the personal lives of
mathematicians.
Mathematical games Mathematical games are
multiplayer games whose rules, strategies, and outcomes can be studied and explained using
mathematics. The players of the game may not need to use explicit mathematics in order to play mathematical games. For example,
Mancala is studied in the mathematical field of
combinatorial game theory, but no mathematics is necessary in order to play it.
Mathematical puzzles Mathematical puzzles require mathematics in order to solve them. They have specific rules, as do
multiplayer games, but mathematical puzzles do not usually involve competition between two or more players. Instead, in order to solve such a
puzzle, the solver must find a solution that satisfies the given conditions.
Logic puzzles and
classical ciphers are common examples of mathematical puzzles.
Cellular automata and
fractals are also considered mathematical puzzles, even though the solver only interacts with them by providing a set of initial conditions. As they often include or require game-like features or thinking, mathematical puzzles are sometimes also called mathematical games.
Mathemagics Magic tricks based on mathematical principles can produce self-working but surprising effects. For instance, a
mathemagician might use the
combinatorial properties of a deck of
playing cards to guess a volunteer's selected card, or
Hamming codes to identify whether a volunteer is lying.
Other activities Other curiosities and pastimes of non-trivial mathematical interest include: • patterns in
juggling • the sometimes profound algorithmic and geometrical characteristics of
origami • patterns and process in creating
string figures such as
Cat's cradles, etc. •
fractal-generating software •
Mathematics and art ==Online blogs, podcasts, and YouTube channels==