This page is about a mathematics collaboration in the spirit of Martin Gardner. Igor Kriz illustrated group theory and the “sporadic simple” Mathieu 12 group in a Scientific American article by turning them into permutation puzzles. He challenged readers to find a mechanical implementation of his M12 puzzle. Oskar van Deventer took up the challenge resulting in two completely different implementations, “Topsy Turvy” and “Number Planet”. This page describes the development of those two implementations.
-Read the full story.
-View the presentation.
-Implementation no.1: Topsy Turvy
-Implementation no.2: Number Planet
Top: full story behind the M12 puzzles
Topsy Turvy
Topsy Turvy implements M12 by dropping tokens in a Patchinko-type set-up.
-See the photos.
-Watch the YouTube clip.
-See how you can buy TopsyTurvy.
Topsy Turvy photos
Topsy Turvy YouTube clip.
Buying Topsy Turvy
LaserExact offers a limited edition for EUR 315 plus shipping until 21 June 2010.Read more at the Twisty Puzzles Forum, or order the puzzle directly from LaserExact (Hans van der Zon) at info@laserexact.nl.
Top: full story behind the M12 puzzles
Number Planet
Number Planet implements M12 is a twisty puzzle.
-See the photos.
-Watch the YouTube clip.
-Watch and move the 3D PDF.
-See how you can buy Number Planet.
Number Planet photos
Number Planet YouTube clip