Detail

Mathematics is not just about numbers and calculations; it is a discipline that stimulates critical thinking. While many people consider math challenging, it is frequently used in our daily lives. Engaging in various math-related activities can foster creativity and imagination. Today, mathematics continues to be actively researched, and the quest to find joy in math persists. The hexagonal tortoise problem is a magic polygon created by Choi Seok-jeong, a high-ranking official (prime minister of the Joseon Dynasty) and the foremost mathematician during the reign of King Sukjong of Joseon Dynasty. A magic polygon is an arrangement of numbers such that when you add or multiply them in specific directions, you get a magic constant. One example of a magic polygon is the magic square, where the sums of the numbers in each row, column, and diagonal are the same. The hexagonal tortoise problem consists of nine hexagons connected in a turtle shell pattern, with the vertices containing numbers from 1 to 30. The sum of six numbers at each vertex equals 93, called the magic sum. Although it has been revealed that altering the arrangement of numbers can yield magic sums ranging from 77 to 109, the total number of possible arrangements is still unknown. Choi Seok-jeong, who believed that a Confucianist should be knowledgeable in mathematics, studied Chinese magic squares and created the hexagonal magic square based on his mathematical imagination. His book, Koo-Soo-Ryak, introduces various unique types of magic squares, including the hexagonal tortoise problem. He also left behind the statement, `Numbers are the path to truth, and understanding the mathematical order of the world helps to comprehend the principles of the world.` The Rubik`s Cube, with its six faces, each painted a different color, is a puzzle many have tried at least once. The total number of possible configurations of the Rubik`s Cube is 43,252,003,274,489,856,000, but only one configuration solves the puzzle. The mathematical concept that represents the minimum number of moves required to solve the puzzle is known as God`s Number. When the 3x3x3 Rubik`s Cube, invented by Hungarian sculptor and architecture professor Rubik Ernő in 1974, gained worldwide popularity, people became curious about its God`s Number. To answer this question, mathematicians conducted decades of research starting in the 1980s. Finally, in 2010, four mathematicians, including Tomas Rokicki, used extensive computer calculations to prove that God`s Number is 20.