David Singmaster
Encyclopedia
David Breyer Singmaster is a retired professor
of mathematics
at London South Bank University
, England
, UK
. A self-described metagrobologist
, he is most famous for his solution to the Rubik's cube
and his huge personal collection of mechanical puzzle
s and books of brain teaser
s. He is also interested in the history of computers.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at London South Bank University
London South Bank University
London South Bank University is a university in south London. With over 25,000 students and 1,700 staff, it is based in the London Borough of Southwark, near the South Bank of the River Thames, from which it takes its name...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. A self-described metagrobologist
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....
, he is most famous for his solution to the Rubik's cube
Rubik's Cube
Rubik's Cube is a 3-D mechanical puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik.Originally called the "Magic Cube", the puzzle was licensed by Rubik to be sold by Ideal Toy Corp. in 1980 and won the German Game of the Year special award for Best Puzzle that...
and his huge personal collection of mechanical puzzle
Mechanical puzzle
A mechanical puzzle is a puzzle presented as a set of mechanically interlinked pieces.- History :The oldest known mechanical puzzle comes from Greece and appeared in the 3rd century BC....
s and books of brain teaser
Brain teaser
A brain teaser is a form of puzzle that requires thought to solve. It often requires thinking in unconventional ways with given constraints in mind; sometimes it also involves lateral thinking. Logic puzzles and riddles are specific types of brain teasers....
s. He is also interested in the history of computers.
Books
- Notes on Rubik's magic cube, David Singmaster. Enslow Pub Inc, 1981. ISBN 0-8949-0043-9.
- Handbook of Cubik Math, David Singmaster and Alexander Frey. The Lutterworth Press, 1987. ISBN 0-7188-2555-1.
- Rubik's Cube Compendium,Edited by David Singmaster Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 21 April 1988. ISBN 0-1985-3202-4.
See also
- How to solve the Rubik's Cube
- Singmaster's conjecture