title: Secrets of Mental Math: The Mathemagician's Guide to Lightning Calculation and Amazing Math Tricks
author:  Arthur Benjamin 
description: &ldquo;A great introduction to the wonder of numbers, from two superb teachers.&rdquo; <br><b>&mdash;Brian Greene, author of <i>The Elegant Universe </i></b><br><br> &ldquo;A magical mystery tour of mental mathematics! Fascinating and fun.&rdquo; <br><b>&mdash;Joseph Gallian, president of the Mathematical Association of America </b><br><br> &ldquo;The clearest, simplest, most entertaining, and best book yet on the art of calculating in your head.&rdquo; <br><b>&mdash;Martin Gardner, author of <i>Mathematical Magic Show</i> and <i>Mathematical Carnival</i></b><br><br> &ldquo;This book can teach you mental math skills that will surprise you and your friends. Better, you will have fun and have valuable practical tools inside your head.&rdquo; <br><b>&mdash;Dr. Edward O. Thorp, mathematician and author of <i>Beat the Deale</i>r and<i> Beat the Market</i></b>
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  Copyright © 2006 by Arthur Benjamin and Michael Shermer
  
  
  All rights reserved.  
  Published in the United States by Three Rivers Press, an imprint of the Crown  
  Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.  
  [www.crownpublishing.com](http://www.crownpublishing.com)
  
  
  Originally published in different form as _Mathemagics_ by Lowell House,  
  Los Angeles, in 1993.
  
  
  Three Rivers Press and the Tugboat design are registered trademarks of Random
  House, Inc.
  
  
  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
  
  
  Benjamin, Arthur.  
  Secrets of mental math : the mathemagician’s guide to lightning calculation
  and amazing math tricks / Arthur Benjamin and Michael Shermer.— 1st ed.  
  p. cm.  
  Includes bibliographical references.  
  1\. Mental arithmetic—Study and teaching. 2. Magic tricks in mathematics
  education. 3. Mental calculators. I. Shermer, Michael. II. Title.  
  QA111.B44 2006  
  510—dc22
  
  
  2005037289
  
  
  eISBN: 978