David Joyner is a professor of mathematics at the U.S. Naval Academy. He is coauthor of Applied Abstract Algebra, also published by Johns Hopkins, and editor of Coding Theory and Cryptography: From Enigma and Geheimschreiber to Quantum Theory.

"Adventures in Group Theory is a tour through the algebra of several 'permutation puzzles'... If you like puzzles, this is a somewhat fun book. If you like algebra, this is a fun book. If you like puzzles and algebra, this is a really fun book." - MAA Online "Joyner has collated all the Rubik lore and integrated it with a self-contained introduction to group theory that equals or, more likely, exceeds what is available in typical dedicated elementary texts." - Choice "Joyner does convey some of the excitement and adventure in picking up knowledge of group theory by trying to understand Rubik's Cube. Enthusiastic students will learn a lot of mathematics from this book." - American Scientist"

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsWhere to Begin...1. Elementary, my dear Watson2. 'And you do addition?'3. Bell ringing and other permutations4. A procession of permutation puzzles5. What's commutative and purple?6. Welcome to the machine7. 'God's algorithm' and graphs8. Symmetry and the Platonic solids9. The illegal cube group10. Words which move11. The (legal) Rubik's Cube group12. Squares, two-faces, and other subgroups13. Other Rubik-like puzzle groups14. Crossing the Rubicon15. Some solution strategies16. Coda: Questions and other directionsBibliographyIndex

David Joyner is a professor of mathematics at the U.S. Naval Academy. He is coauthor of Applied Abstract Algebra, also published by Johns Hopkins, and editor of Coding Theory and Cryptography: From Enigma and Geheimschreiber to Quantum Theory.

"Adventures in Group Theory is a tour through the algebra of several 'permutation puzzles'... If you like puzzles, this is a somewhat fun book. If you like algebra, this is a fun book. If you like puzzles and algebra, this is a really fun book." - MAA Online "Joyner has collated all the Rubik lore and integrated it with a self-contained introduction to group theory that equals or, more likely, exceeds what is available in typical dedicated elementary texts." - Choice "Joyner does convey some of the excitement and adventure in picking up knowledge of group theory by trying to understand Rubik's Cube. Enthusiastic students will learn a lot of mathematics from this book." - American Scientist"

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsWhere to Begin...1. Elementary, my dear Watson2. 'And you do addition?'3. Bell ringing and other permutations4. A procession of permutation puzzles5. What's commutative and purple?6. Welcome to the machine7. 'God's algorithm' and graphs8. Symmetry and the Platonic solids9. The illegal cube group10. Words which move11. The (legal) Rubik's Cube group12. Squares, two-faces, and other subgroups13. Other Rubik-like puzzle groups14. Crossing the Rubicon15. Some solution strategies16. Coda: Questions and other directionsBibliographyIndex

David Joyner is a professor of mathematics at the U.S. Naval Academy. He is coauthor of Applied Abstract Algebra, also published by Johns Hopkins, and editor of Coding Theory and Cryptography: From Enigma and Geheimschreiber to Quantum Theory.

"Adventures in Group Theory is a tour through the algebra of several 'permutation puzzles'... If you like puzzles, this is a somewhat fun book. If you like algebra, this is a fun book. If you like puzzles and algebra, this is a really fun book." - MAA Online "Joyner has collated all the Rubik lore and integrated it with a self-contained introduction to group theory that equals or, more likely, exceeds what is available in typical dedicated elementary texts." - Choice "Joyner does convey some of the excitement and adventure in picking up knowledge of group theory by trying to understand Rubik's Cube. Enthusiastic students will learn a lot of mathematics from this book." - American Scientist"

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsWhere to Begin...1. Elementary, my dear Watson2. 'And you do addition?'3. Bell ringing and other permutations4. A procession of permutation puzzles5. What's commutative and purple?6. Welcome to the machine7. 'God's algorithm' and graphs8. Symmetry and the Platonic solids9. The illegal cube group10. Words which move11. The (legal) Rubik's Cube group12. Squares, two-faces, and other subgroups13. Other Rubik-like puzzle groups14. Crossing the Rubicon15. Some solution strategies16. Coda: Questions and other directionsBibliographyIndex