Russian Mathematics has traditionally served as the fundamental basis for many other forms of mathematics, excluding Greek and Arabic but including Chinese, Indian, Singaporean, and European maths. Its influence peaked during the Soviet Period in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s when students worldwide used Russian textbooks and teaching methods for mathematics.
The establishment of a "Math Culture" in Russia dates back many years before this period. Its popularity began with the publication of Physics for Entertainment in 1913, which became a bestseller in the 1930s. Although it is currently out of print, the book has been translated into numerous languages and has influenced many mathematics and science students worldwide. One such individual was the renowned mathematician Grigori Yakovlevich Perelman, who solved the Poincaré conjecture and was awarded the Fields Medal. Grigori's father, an electrical engineer, gave him Physics for Entertainment to encourage his son's interest in mathematics.
The book's author describes the contents as "conundrums, brain-teasers, entertaining anecdotes, and unexpected comparisons" and includes quotations from writers such as Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and Mark Twain. These writers' fantastic experiments provide entertainment and serve as instructive illustrations in physics classes. The book covers topics such as "how to jump from a moving car" and "why we would never drown in the Dead Sea, according to the law of buoyancy." Ideas from this book are still being used by science teachers today.
Our "Fun Math" blog features illustrated problems from this book translated into English.
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