本書由兩位數學家以輕鬆幽默的筆調,從數學角度探索聖誕節的一切:如何用博弈論決定交換禮物的名單?如何以公式計算聖誕樹的完美裝飾比例?聖誕老人整夜進出煙囪,是會越來越瘦,還是因吃下無數餅乾而變胖?透過圖表、方程式與簡明解說,作者將日常節慶活動化為數學思考的樂趣。這是一趟融合智慧與節慶幽默的閱讀旅程,適合熱愛邏輯、遊戲與聖誕精神的讀者。亮點:・以數學幽默重新詮釋聖誕節傳統。・結合方程、圖示與趣味案例。・適合喜歡理性思考又愛節慶氛圍的讀者。In The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus, two distinguished mathematicians explain, with humor and clarity, mathematical concepts through one very merry motif: Christmas. Lighthearted and diverting with Christmasy diagrams, sketches and graphs, equations, Markov chains, and matrices, The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus brightens up the bleak midwinter with stockingsful of mathematical marvels. How do you apply game theory to select who should be on your Christmas shopping list? What equations should you use to decorate the Christmas tree? Will calculations show Santa is getting steadily thinner--shimmying up and down chimneys for a whole night--or fatter--as he munches on cookies and milk in billions of houses across the world? In their quest to provide mathemat