Bill Cutler
Encyclopedia
William H. Cutler is a retired American
mathematician
and systems analyst
, living in Illinois
USA.
His main interest and area of research is in burr puzzle
s and packing (box-filling) puzzles
. He published articles in the Journal of Recreational Mathematics
on the Six-Piece Burr and published two booklets, Holey 6-Piece Burr! and A Computer Analysis of All 6-Piece Burrs.
Cutler has designed a wide variety of burrs in addition to his well-known (within the world of metagrobologists
) work on the Six-Piece Burr.
He was mentioned in the season 5 finale of Numb3rs
for his burr puzzle research.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
and systems analyst
Systems analysis
Systems analysis is the study of sets of interacting entities, including computer systems analysis. This field is closely related to requirements analysis or operations research...
, living in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
USA.
His main interest and area of research is in burr puzzle
Burr puzzle
Burr puzzles are interlocking puzzles known in Europe and Asia since at least the 18th century. Traditionally they are made from wood, but some modern versions use plastic while those of collector's quality may be made from brass...
s and packing (box-filling) puzzles
Packing problem
Packing problems are a class of optimization problems in mathematics which involve attempting to pack objects together , as densely as possible. Many of these problems can be related to real life packaging, storage and transportation issues...
. He published articles in the Journal of Recreational Mathematics
Journal of Recreational Mathematics
The Journal of Recreational Mathematics is an American journal dedicated to recreational mathematics, started in 1968. It is published quarterly by the Baywood Publishing Company....
on the Six-Piece Burr and published two booklets, Holey 6-Piece Burr! and A Computer Analysis of All 6-Piece Burrs.
Cutler has designed a wide variety of burrs in addition to his well-known (within the world of metagrobologists
Metagrobology
Metagrobology is the study of puzzles. Thus a metagrobolist is one who practices or makes puzzles. Famous metagrobologists include Nob Yoshigahara and David Singmaster....
) work on the Six-Piece Burr.
He was mentioned in the season 5 finale of Numb3rs
NUMB3RS
Numb3rs is an American television drama which premiered on CBS on January 23, 2005, and concluded on March 12, 2010. The series was created by Nicolas Falacci and Cheryl Heuton, and follows FBI Special Agent Don Eppes and his mathematical genius brother, Charlie Eppes , who helps Don solve crimes...
for his burr puzzle research.
Works include
- 1978, The Six-Piece Burr, Journal of Recreational Mathematics, Vol 10(4),
- 1977-78, pp 241–250 pb, Amityville, NY: Baywood Publishing Co.
- 1988, Holey 6-Piece Burr!, 46pp, pb, Palatine, IL: Self Published
- 1994, A Computer Analysis of All 6-Piece Burrs, 80pp, pb, Palatine, IL: Self Published