This book presents a carefully curated selection of mathematical problems suitable for young minds aged 12 and beyond. Most of these problems have been adapted from the Dürer Competition, a venerable mathematics competition in Hungary renowned for fostering teamwork and encouraging creative thinking in the realm of mathematical problem-solving.

Within the pages of this book, readers are invited to accompany Albrecht, Tarkal, and Zsordi on 14 captivating journeys to the enigmatic Island of Oxisz, where they will encounter a total of 84 thought-provoking problems. Some of these challenges are intricately interconnected, elevating the level of difficulty. The concluding section provides comprehensive solutions and helpful hints, illuminating the paths taken by the three friends to tackle the problems.

No specialized prior knowledge is required beyond a solid foundation in mathematics from the first seven years of school. Nevertheless, many problems in the book demand original ideas or clever combinations of elementary principles. This book offers students, mathematics educators, and trainers alike a captivating glimpse into a distinctive competition, making it a valuable resource for cultivating problem-solving skills at an early age.

Table of Contents

1. Discover the Island of Oxisz

2. Painting with a Boat and a Barrel

3. Skiing Between Fréz and Gard

4. Football in Brassó

5. Can I Lock the Cat in the Mill?

6. The Trick to Making Moles Disappear

7. The Rejuvenating Grandma Is Baking a Pie

8. Reconcilable Differences

9. How Many Centimeters Is a Dessert?

10. Self-intersecting Tic-Tac-Toe

11. Flowers on the Tiles of the Housing Estates

12. Trolleybus on the Oktogon

13. Bloody Serious Problems

14. Icing on the Cake-Really Difficult Problems

About the Author

Bálint Hujter teaches mathematics for the special math classes at Fazekas Mihály Gimnázium in Budapest, renowned for its talent-nurturing curriculum. He also played a key role in organizing the Dürer Competition from 2008 to 2019.

Dániel Lenger, PhD is an assistant professor in Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest and a mathematics teacher in Fazekas Mihály Gimnázium, Budapest. He contributed significantly to the leadership of the Dürer Competition from 2012 to 2020

Gábor Szűcs works as a mathematics teacher at the Joy of Thinking Foundation and holds the position of an assistant research fellow at the Rényi Alfréd Mathematical Institute in Budapest. Szűcs was among the founders of the Dürer Competition in 2007.