Joseph Madachy

Joseph Madachy
Born March 16, 1927
Star Junction, Pennsylvania, USA
Died March 27, 2014 (aged 87) (death date then birth date)
Dayton, Ohio, USA
Fields recreational mathematics
Known for Journal of Recreational Mathematics

Joseph Madachy (March 16, 1927 – March 27, 2014) was a research chemist, technical editor and renowned recreational mathematician. He was the lead editor of Journal of Recreational Mathematics[1] for nearly 30 years and then served as editor emeritus. Previously he was owner, publisher and editor of the predecessor Recreational Mathematics Magazine which ran during 1961–1964 with over 5000 subscribers.

In recreational mathematics he made numerous original contributions, was a major proponent[2] and supporter for decades. Greenwood Press asked him to restart his journal in 1967, and for almost 30 years he was editor for the Journal of Recreational Mathematics which was published by Baywood Publishing from 1973. He authored the books Mathematics on Vacation,[3] Madachy's Mathematical Recreations[4] and Mathematical Diversions,[5] and served as the literary agent for Dmitri Borgmann's Language on Vacation.[6] Longtime colleagues and co-authors include Martin Gardner, Harry L. Nelson, and Isaac Asimov, and Solomon Golomb (with pentominos).

Mathematics on Vacation
Pentomino Puzzle Solutions

He worked with prime numbers,[7][8] pentominos,[9] amicable numbers and developed mathematical concepts used in applications such as cyber security with cryptarithmetic.[10] He made contributions to Narcissistic numbers[11][12][13] and Fibonacci series devising puzzles using Fibonacci numbers.[14] His work in recreational mathematics covered other diverse areas from chess to magic squares [15] to calculator art.[16]

Fictional references

Madachy is mentioned in the popular Jack Reacher novel series in the book Never Go Back regarding narcissistic numbers in the plot: "Such numbers had been much discussed by a guy called Joseph Madachy, who once upon a time had been the owner, publisher, and editor of a magazine called Journal of Recreational Mathematics."

References

  1. ↑ "Journal of Recreational Mathematics". baywood.com. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  2. ↑ RECREATIONAL MATHEMATICS - The Fibonacci Quarterly
  3. ↑ Joseph S. Madachy, Mathematics on Vacation, Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd. 1966
  4. ↑ Madachy, J. S., Madachy's Mathematical Recreations, New York: Dover, 1979.
  5. ↑ Hunter, J.A.H. and Madachy, J. S., Mathematical Diversions, New York: Von Nostrand, 1963.
  6. ↑ Scot Morris (October 1986). "Games". OMNI 9 (1): 182–183.
  7. ↑ Prime Magic Squares
  8. ↑ Madachy, J. S. "Magic and Antimagic Squares." Ch. 4 in Madachy's Mathematical Recreations. New York: Dover, pp. 85-113, 1979.
  9. ↑ "Pentominos - Some Solved and Unsolved Problems", "The Journal of Recreational Mathematics". Baywood Publishing. July 1969.
  10. ↑ A Primer on Cryptarithmetic
  11. ↑ Joseph S. Madachy, Mathematics on Vacation, Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd. 1966, pages 163-175
  12. ↑ Narcissistic numbers
  13. ↑ "Some New Narcissistic Numbers", "The Fibonacci Quarterly". The Fibonacci Association. April 1972.
  14. ↑ "The Fibonacci Quarterly" 6 (1). The Fibonacci Association. February 1968. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  15. ↑ Pickover, Clifford A. (2003-12-29). The Zen of Magic Squares, Circles, and Stars: An Exhibition of Surprising Structures Across Dimensions. Princeton University Press. pp. 110–. ISBN 9780691115979. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  16. ↑ "Calculator Art Contest", Journal Of Recreational Mathematics, Baywood Publishing. July 1971