An Historical Background to some Mathematical Games.
Michael Cornelius · Mathematics in school · 1986
Puzzles, games and recreations in mathematics have been in existence for a very long time. Most items in modern collections have their origins in problems posed many years (usually hundreds of years) ago. Perusal of accounts of the history of mathematics or the history of games can often lead to rewarding discoveries and, at a time when teachers of mathematics are being exhorted to initiate pupil investigations, here are rich sources of ideas and material. There is evidence, in particular from Egypt and China, of mathematical games dating back as far as 2000 BC. Games have emerged from all parts of the world some have achieved universal popularity, others have remained in particular regions. It is impossible in a short account to give a detailed discussion of the history of games and recreations, what follows is an attempt to look at a few interesting examples which will provide no more than snapshots but it is hoped that they will encourage teachers to explore further and experiment with their pupils.