Mathematics is Beautiful

Heinz Klaus Strick studied mathematics and physics at the University of Cologne. For 37 years he was a teacher at a grammar school in Leverkusen, and for the last 21 years he was also headmaster of the school. He explains why mathematics is beautiful through his didactic essays, textbooks, lectures and teaching assignments at various universities and, last but not least, through his mathematics calendar (www.mathematik-ist-schoen.de). For his activities he was awarded the Archimedes Prize of MNU (Association for the promotion of STEM teaching) in 2002.

• Regular polygons and stars.- Patterns of coloured stones.- Splitting rectangles into squares as large as possible.- Circles and circular rings.- Pentominoes and similar puzzles.- Thread patterns.- Calculating with square numbers - Number cycles.- Area divisions.- Weighing in the triple system.- Parquetry of regular 2n-corners using rhombuses.- Geometric figures on chequered paper and on a square grid.- Eye totals.- The vanished square.- Splitting rectangles into many different squares.- Kissing Circles.- Sums of powers.- Pythagoras' theorem.

“There is a useful index and, considering the huge number of coloured illustrations, the price is not exorbitant. A very interesting book with lots of useful material for enrichment at many levels … .” (Peter Giblin, The Mathematical Gazette, Vol. 108 (571), March, 2024)