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ERIC Number: EJ1060947
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1051-1970
EISSN: N/A
Using a Card Trick to Illustrate Fixed Points and Stability
Champanerkar, Jyoti; Jani, Mahendra
PRIMUS, v25 n5 p473-483 2015
Mathematical ideas from number theory, group theory, dynamical systems, and computer science have often been used to explain card tricks. Conversely, playing cards have been often used to illustrate the mathematical concepts of probability distributions and group theory. In this paper, we describe how the 21-card trick may be used to illustrate concepts such as a discrete dynamical system, a fixed point, and the stability of a fixed point. The 21-card trick is a way of dealing cards in order to predict a card that is selected by a volunteer, within three moves. The 21-card trick and its two generalizations are examples of piece-wise linear, non-homogeneous, discrete dynamical systems, all of which have a global stable fixed point.
Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A