Mathematical Recreations and Essays by W. W. Rouse Ball

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Mathematical Recreations and Essays by W. W. Rouse Ball

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By Abil Kile Posted on Nov 15, 2025

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Authors: Ball, W. W. Rouse (Walter William Rouse), 1850-1925 Published By : Ball, W. W. Rouse (Walter William Rouse), 1850-1925

Book Language: English

Ever feel like math class sucked all the fun out of numbers? This book is the antidote. Forget dry equations for a minute—this is a playground for your brain. It's full of puzzles, games, and curious problems that famous thinkers have tinkered with for centuries. Think magic squares, knight's tours on a chessboard, and figuring out how to weigh anything with just a few standard weights. It’s not about finding the 'right answer' for a test; it’s about the sheer joy of figuring things out. If you've ever enjoyed a good logic puzzle or wondered about the math behind a card trick, this classic collection will feel like finding a secret door in a very serious library.

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3. The Content must be used solely for a non-commercial purpose. Although this blanket permission to reproduce the Content is given freely such that no special permission is required, the Bahá’í International Community retains full copyright protection for all Content included at this Site under all applicable national and international laws. For permission to publish, transmit, display or otherwise use the Content for any commercial purpose, please contact us (http://reference.bahai.org/en/contact.html). CONTENTS Baha’i Terms of Use “Blessed is the spot, and the house...” “Intone, O My servant, the verses of God...” OBLIGATORY PRAYERS “The daily obligatory prayers are three in number....” SHORT OBLIGATORY PRAYER MEDIUM OBLIGATORY PRAYER LONG OBLIGATORY PRAYER GENERAL PRAYERS AID AND ASSISTANCE “O Thou Whose face is the object of my adoration,...” “My God, my Adored One, my King, my Desire!...” “Lauded be Thy Name, O Lord our God! Thou...” “O my God, my Lord and my Master! I have...” “Lord! Pitiful are we, grant us Thy favor; poor,...” “O Thou kind Lord! We are servants of Thy...” “Remove not, O Lord, the festal board that hath...” PRAYER FOR AMERICA “O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning...” ASSISTANCE WITH TESTS “Dispel my grief by Thy bounty and Thy generosity,...” “Lauded and glorified art Thou, O my God! I entreat...” “Is there any Remover of difficulties save God?...” “Say: God sufficeth all things above all things,...” “I adjure Thee by Thy might, O my God! Let no...” “O Lord! Thou art the Remover of every anguish...” “O Lord, my God and my Haven in my distress!...” “He is the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful!...” “O my Lord, my Beloved, my Desire! Befriend...” CHILDREN AND YOUTH “Praised be Thou, O Lord my God! Graciously...” “O Thou peerless Lord! Let this suckling babe...” “O God! Rear this little babe in the bosom of...” “O God! Educate these children. These children...” “O Thou kind Lord! These lovely children are...” “O Lord! Make these children excellent plants....” “He is God! O God my God! Bestow upon me...” “O God, guide me, protect me, make of me a...” “O my Lord! O my Lord!...” “O Peerless Lord! Be Thou a shelter for this...” “O Lord! Make this youth radiant, and confer...” FOR THE DEPARTED “O my God! This is Thy servant and the son of...” “Glory be to Thee, O Lord my God! Abase not...” “He is God, exalted is He, the Lord of loving-kindness...” “O my God! O Thou forgiver of sins, bestower...” “O my God! O my God! Verily, Thy servant,...” “O Thou forgiving Lord! Although some souls have...” DETACHMENT “Suffer me, O my God, to draw nigh unto Thee,...” “Glorified art Thou, O my God! I yield Thee...” “Lauded be Thy name, O my God! I entreat Thee...” “Many a chilled heart, O my God, hath been...” “I know not, O my God, what the Fire is which...” “Praise be unto Thee, O my God! I am one of...” “In the Name of thy Lord, the Creator, the Sovereign,...” “O Lord! Unto Thee I repair for refuge, and...” “O God, my God! Thou art my Hope and my...” “O God, my God! Fill up for me the cup of detachment...” EVENING “O my God, my Master, the Goal of my desire!...” “How can I choose to sleep, O God, my God,...” “O Lord, I have turned my face unto Thy kingdom...” FAMILIES “Glory be unto Thee, O Lord my God! I beg...” “I beg Thy forgiveness, O my God, and implore...” “O Lord! In this Most Great Dispensation Thou...” “O God, my God! This Thy handmaid is calling...” “My Lord! My Lord!...

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Don't let the title fool you—this isn't a textbook. Mathematical Recreations and Essays is more like a treasure chest left behind by a particularly clever and playful professor. First published over a century ago, it gathers fascinating brain-teasers and historical curiosities from the world of mathematics.

The Story

There's no plot in the traditional sense. Instead, each chapter explores a different type of puzzle or game. You'll learn about the history of magic squares, attempt to trace a path that visits every square on a chessboard without repeating, and dive into classic problems like the Seven Bridges of Königsberg. Ball explains the concepts clearly, often starting with a simple question that leads you down a surprisingly deep rabbit hole of logic and history.

Why You Should Read It

This book reminds you that math is fundamentally about creative thinking and curiosity. It’s incredibly satisfying to wrestle with a problem, hit a wall, and then have that 'aha!' moment when the solution clicks. Reading it feels like having a conversation with a wise, enthusiastic guide who wants to share the coolest things he's found. You don't need to be a math whiz—just someone who likes to be intrigued.

Final Verdict

Perfect for puzzle lovers, board game designers, trivia collectors, or anyone who enjoys seeing the playful side of a subject often taught as rigid and stern. It's a classic for a reason, offering a timeless kind of intellectual fun. Keep it on your shelf for when you want to give your brain a delightful and satisfying workout.

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