Mathematical Card Magic

"… a very innovative and detailed overview of the mathematical principles behind card magic tricks. The author begins with simple card tricks and continues with more complex ones. Each one is illustrated with pictures and detailed explanations throughout the book. However, the aim is not to teach the reader how to do the tricks in front of an audience, but instead to teach the reader why these tricks work the way they do. The necessary combinatorial and mathematical notions are explained and proofs or solution to each presented card trick are always provided. Whenever applicable, the history of each card trick is presented. In total, 52 card tricks are featured, including several created by the author. The presentation of the mathematical background at the beginning of each trick, which is then translated into a card magic trick, also demonstrates how new card tricks can be created. This high-quality, full-color edition concludes with a very useful bibliography and index."
—Efstratios Rappos, Zentralblatt MATH

"[This book] did not disappoint. … wonderfully organized … Mulcahy has a conversational tone throughout. However, by no means is there a loss of rigor, as he proves many of the principles that he uses. In fact, this book would make an excellent addition to any math club library, and it would provide a fun way to introduce important mathematical concepts. … wonderful, entertaining book."
—Math Horizons, November 2014

"This book is a well-written window into the mathematics behind 52 new card tricks as well as an introduction to performing such tricks. The mathematics is presented clearly enough for even the novice mathematician to follow. At the same time, the card tricks are explained thoroughly enough for even a novice magician to perform. … This book will bring out the mathemagician in every reader. … a must read for anyone looking for ways to get students of all ages interested in mathematics."
—Brittany Shelton, Mathematical Reviews, April 2014

"Mathematical Card Magic is a great reference for aspiring magicians who are curious about the mathematics behind card tricks. I am not a magician, nor am I an aspiring magician, but I enjoyed this book nonetheless. What I liked best was taking a peek behind the scenes of the card trick setup. … most tricks are a combination of careful dealing, careful shuffling, an astute memory, distracting the audience, and mathematics. I liked the way the book is organized. Every trick is scored on the sophistication of the underlying mathematics, how entertaining the trick is for the lay audience, how much setup is required, and how hard the trick is to perform. The author is clearly a seasoned pro. He is a skilled mathematician and an expert magician. He also has an easygoing way of explaining clever card tricks, combined with careful diagrams so that the reader can master every trick."
—Kara Shane Colley, MAA Reviews, November 2013

"Printed on glossy paper with many colour illustrations, it is not only fun, but also a pleasure to read. The apprentice magician will have a lot to practice on but even the professional magician will find many things to think about while mastering this wonderful calculus of the card deck."
—A. Bultheel, KU Leuven, The European Mathematical Society, November 2013

"Reading Colm Mulcahy’s book on mathematical card tricks is a lot of fun. It's clever, instructive, and clear. Learn some tricks. Learn some math. Impress your friends."
—John Allen Paulos, Mathematician and Author of Innumeracy, A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper, and other books

"Mathematical Card Magic is filled with many original ideas that will keep mathematicians and magicians busy for a very long time."
—Arthur Benjamin, Harvey Mudd College, and author of Secrets of Mental Math: The Mathemagician’s Guide to Lightning Calculation and Amazing Math Tricks

"Colm Mulcahy has produced a stimulating collection of novel card magic tricks that not only form a wonderful introduction to important ideas in combinatorics but also contain some very nifty magic effects as well. By reading this book, the reader will be well rewarded in both disciplines."
—Ronald Graham, University of California, San Diego, and co-author of Magical Mathematics

"Colm has invented many important and practical mathematical principles and tailor-made them for card magic. He’s a skilled teacher and creator, and with his book in hand you’ll be able to construct lots of new effects. A must for your magic library."
—Lennart Green, 1991 World Champion in Card Magic, Sweden

"This is an amazing volume! Prof. Mulcahy has left one mystery for his readers to solve: Is it a really good math book, using card tricks to explain the math, or is it a really good magic book, using math to explain the magic? Either way, there’s not a wrong answer to this question."
—S. Brent Morris, PhD, author of Magic Tricks, Card Shuffling, and Dynamic Computer Memories

"In the early 1900s there began a new blossoming of mathematical magic, via such brilliant inventors as Charles T. Jordan, Stewart James, Robert Hummer and Martin Gardner. You’ll meet the above-mentioned people, plus many other worthwhile thinkers, in the book that you are about to read. Colm Mulcahy has joined those ranks. His bi-monthly Card Colm has appeared on the website of the Mathematical Association of America since 2004 … If you have been a Card Colm reader, you already know the quality of his imaginative output. You will find much of the best material from that column here in this collection, revised and improved. You will also encounter a wide variety of previously unreleased material, with some lovely surprises."
—From the Foreword by Max Maven, Magician and Mentalist

"… fantastic [book]! There are so many principles and ideas in it that it is one of those rare books that I will continually look through, study, and use as a reference for as long as I do card magic (which means the rest of my life)."
—Mark Setteducati

"In this delightful book, the author of the bi-monthly online articles Card Colm for the Mathematical Association of America shows just how magical mathematics can be. The mathematics ranges from simple to deep and the magical effects range from subtle to stunning. Most of the mathematical principles underlying the effects are original, and many are appearing in print for the first time in this book. I’m looking forward to using this material to intrigue and inspire young people to learn both mathematics and magic!"
—Neil Calkin, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Clemson University

"This is an amazing book! Like a magician’s well-stacked deck of playing cards, the 13 chapters are packed with 52 punchy effects guaranteed to amaze and amuse. Each chapter deals generously with mathematicians and professional magicians alike. Bursting with new effects, the chapters detail the method and Colm’s favoured presentation—each is ‘pick up and use’ perfect—but also provide a springboard for readers’ imagination to create their own presentations. Those with a more mathematical interest won’t be disappointed either; reading further into each chapter is a fascinating exploration of the mathematical questions underlying the effects. This is a magic book that will get you thinking and entertaining in equal amounts, in essence a perfect shuffle."
—Peter W. McOwan, Vice Principal Public Engagement and External Partnerships, Queen Mary, University of London

"Colm not only provides lucid exposition of how certain mathematical principles work, but he also clearly describes subtle performance pieces that entertainingly illustrate them. Then, to boot, he drills down as to why they work. In other words, he gives you the ‘body’ of everything, plus its ‘x-ray.’ Highly recommended."
—Jon Racherbaumer, Preposterist and Author

"In his book Mathematical Card Magic, Colm Mulcahy, PhD '85, shows that performing card tricks can be as easy as pi. Through visuals, detailed instructions, and a few math lessons, the Spelman College professor explains the mathematical basis of various card tricks, teaching readers to become so-called ‘mathemagicians.’"
—Lyndsay Isaksen, Cornell Alumni Magazine, January/February 2014

"… a very innovative and detailed overview of the mathematical principles behind card magic tricks. The author begins with simple card tricks and continues with more complex ones. Each one is illustrated with pictures and detailed explanations throughout the book. However, the aim is not to teach the reader how to do the tricks in front of an audience, but instead to teach the reader why these tricks work the way they do. The necessary combinatorial and mathematical notions are explained and proofs or solution to each presented card trick are always provided. Whenever applicable, the history of each card trick is presented. In total, 52 card tricks are featured, including several created by the author. The presentation of the mathematical background at the beginning of each trick, which is then translated into a card magic trick, also demonstrates how new card tricks can be created. This high-quality, full-color edition concludes with a very useful bibliography and index."
—Efstratios Rappos, Zentralblatt MATH

"[This book] did not disappoint. … wonderfully organized … Mulcahy has a conversational tone throughout. However, by no means is there a loss of rigor, as he proves many of the principles that he uses. In fact, this book would make an excellent addition to any math club library, and it would provide a fun way to introduce important mathematical concepts. … wonderful, entertaining book."
—Math Horizons, November 2014

"This book is a well-written window into the mathematics behind 52 new card tricks as well as an introduction to performing such tricks. The mathematics is presented clearly enough for even the novice mathematician to follow. At the same time, the card tricks are explained thoroughly enough for even a novice magician to perform. … This book will bring out the mathemagician in every reader. … a must read for anyone looking for ways to get students of all ages interested in mathematics."
—Brittany Shelton, Mathematical Reviews, April 2014

"Mathematical Card Magic is a great reference for aspiring magicians who are curious about the mathematics behind card tricks. I am not a magician, nor am I an aspiring magician, but I enjoyed this book nonetheless. What I liked best was taking a peek behind the scenes of the card trick setup. … most tricks are a combination of careful dealing, careful shuffling, an astute memory, distracting the audience, and mathematics. I liked the way the book is organized. Every trick is scored on the sophistication of the underlying mathematics, how entertaining the trick is for the lay audience, how much setup is required, and how hard the trick is to perform. The author is clearly a seasoned pro. He is a skilled mathematician and an expert magician. He also has an easygoing way of explaining clever card tricks, combined with careful diagrams so that the reader can master every trick."
—Kara Shane Colley, MAA Reviews, November 2013

"Printed on glossy paper with many colour illustrations, it is not only fun, but also a pleasure to read. The apprentice magician will have a lot to practice on but even the professional magician will find many things to think about while mastering this wonderful calculus of the card deck."
—A. Bultheel, KU Leuven, The European Mathematical Society, November 2013

"Reading Colm Mulcahy’s book on mathematical card tricks is a lot of fun. It's clever, instructive, and clear. Learn some tricks. Learn some math. Impress your friends."
—John Allen Paulos, Mathematician and Author of Innumeracy, A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper, and other books

"Mathematical Card Magic is filled with many original ideas that will keep mathematicians and magicians busy for a very long time."
—Arthur Benjamin, Harvey Mudd College, and author of Secrets of Mental Math: The Mathemagician’s Guide to Lightning Calculation and Amazing Math Tricks

"Colm Mulcahy has produced a stimulating collection of novel card magic tricks that not only form a wonderful introduction to important ideas in combinatorics but also contain some very nifty magic effects as well. By reading this book, the reader will be well rewarded in both disciplines."
—Ronald Graham, University of California, San Diego, and co-author of Magical Mathematics

"Colm has invented many important and practical mathematical principles and tailor-made them for card magic. He’s a skilled teacher and creator, and with his book in hand you’ll be able to construct lots of new effects. A must for your magic library."
—Lennart Green, 1991 World Champion in Card Magic, Sweden

"This is an amazing volume! Prof. Mulcahy has left one mystery for his readers to solve: Is it a really good math book, using card tricks to explain the math, or is it a really good magic book, using math to explain the magic? Either way, there’s not a wrong answer to this question."
—S. Brent Morris, PhD, author of Magic Tricks, Card Shuffling, and Dynamic Computer Memories

"In the early 1900s there began a new blossoming of mathematical magic, via such brilliant inventors as Charles T. Jordan, Stewart James, Robert Hummer and Martin Gardner. You’ll meet the above-mentioned people, plus many other worthwhile thinkers, in the book that you are about to read. Colm Mulcahy has joined those ranks. His bi-monthly Card Colm has appeared on the website of the Mathematical Association of America since 2004 … If you have been a Card Colm reader, you already know the quality of his imaginative output. You will find much of the best material from that column here in this collection, revised and improved. You will also encounter a wide variety of previously unreleased material, with some lovely surprises."
—From the Foreword by Max Maven, Magician and Mentalist

"… fantastic [book]! There are so many principles and ideas in it that it is one of those rare books that I will continually look through, study, and use as a reference for as long as I do card magic (which means the rest of my life)."
—Mark Setteducati

"In this delightful book, the author of the bi-monthly online articles Card Colm for the Mathematical Association of America shows just how magical mathematics can be. The mathematics ranges from simple to deep and the