The book presents creative problem solving techniques with particular emphasis on how to develop and train inventive skills to students. It presents an array of 24 carefully selected themes from elementary mathematics: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, analysis as well as applied mathematics. The main goal of this book is to offer a systematic illustration of how to organise the natural transition from the problem solving activity towards exploring, investigating, and discovering new facts and results. The target audience are mainly students, young mathematicians, and teachers.
"In the spirit of George Polya's classic treatise How to Solve It: A New Aspect of Mathematical Method, this book is Vasile Berinde's attempt to "algorithmetize" the creative process involved in problem-solving.... The author's stated goals are twofold. The most obvious aim is to provide methods for solving some difficult problems. But on a deeper level, he is trying to grow new research mathematicians by planting the seeds that will develop into the skills they will need to do original research.... Each of the 24 chapters begins with a source or starting problem and its solution. Then the fun begins! Remarks about the "essence" of the problem and its solution suggest new directions to explore, and these investigations lead to generalizations and the formulation of related problems, sometimes building a "factory" of new problems.
From the first page I eagerly grabbed my pencil and a stack of scratch paper, and set to work as I happily read along.... I recommend the book for all lovers of mathematics, but especially students and teachers who participate in mathematics contests and practice problem solving."
―MAA Online