Pradeep Mutalik

Puzzle Columnist

Latest Articles

Sleeping Beauty’s Necker Cube Dilemma

January 14, 2016

Like a visually ambiguous Necker cube, the famous Sleeping Beauty problem can be perceived in two seemingly valid ways.

Solution: ‘The Fabulously Fair Feast’

December 22, 2015

The solution to this month’s puzzle explains how to design a Sudoku square to figure out the likes and dislikes of four or eight finicky friends.

The Fabulously Fair Feast

December 10, 2015

For this month’s puzzle, design a Sudoku square to figure out the likes and dislikes of four finicky friends.

Solution: ‘Be Still My Pulsating Sequence’

November 25, 2015

The solution to this month’s puzzle explains how to find a rule behind a given sequence of numbers and challenges readers to take on a ‘lovely’ unsolved problem.

Be Still My Pulsating Sequence

November 12, 2015

Can you infer the simple rule behind a number sequence that spikes up and down like the beating of a heart?

Solution: ‘Creating Art With Mathematics’

October 30, 2015

The solution to this month’s puzzle explains the artful mathematics behind symmetrical patterns.

How to Create Art With Mathematics

October 8, 2015

Can you generate aesthetically pleasing, symmetrical curves with two numbers and a simple mathematical function?

Solution: ‘The Road Less Traveled’

September 25, 2015

The solution to this month’s puzzle uses both mathematics and psychology to explain trouble with choosing the fastest route.

The Road Less Traveled

September 3, 2015

When there are two paths to your destination, why does it always seem like you’re on the road with more traffic?

Get highlights of the most important news delivered to your email inbox