Joy of Mathematics: Marvels, Novelties, and Neglected Gems That Are Rarely Taught in Math Class

by Alfred S. Posamentier, Robert Geretschlager (Contributor), Charles Li (Contributor)

Wouldn't it be great if all school teachers (from kindergarten through high school) would share the joy of mathematics with their students, rather than focus only on the prescribed curriculum that will subsequently be tested? This book reveals some of the wonders of mathematics that are often missing from classrooms. Here's your chance to catch up with the math gems you may have missed.Using jargon-free language and many illustrations, the authors--all veteran math educators--explore five areas--arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability, and the ways in which mathematics can reinforce common sense. Among other things, you'll learn "the rule of 72," which enables you to quickly determine how long it will take your bank account to double its value at a specific interest rate. Other handy techniques include an automatic algorithm for multiplying numbers mentally and a clever application that will allow you to convert from miles to kilometers (or the reverse) mentally. A delightful presentation of geometric novelties reveals relationships that could have made your study of geometry more fun and enlightening. In the area of probability there is a host of interesting from the famous Monty-Hall problem to the counterintuitive probability of two people having the same birthday in a crowded room.Finally, the authors demonstrate how math will make you a better thinker by improving your organizing abilities and providing useful and surprising solutions to common mathematics problems. You'll come away with an appreciation for math you never thought possible and a true appreciation for this "queen of the sciences."

Genres: Mathematics

319 pages, Paperback

First published August 22, 2017

About the author

Alfred S. Posamentier (born October 18, 1942) is among the most prominent American educators in the country and is a lead commentator on American math and science education, regularly contributing to The New York Times and other news publications. He has created original math and science curricula, emphasized the need for increased math and science funding, promulgated criteria by which to select math and science educators, advocated the importance of involving parents in K-12 math and science education, and provided myriad curricular solutions for teaching critical thinking in math.

Dr. Posamentier was a member of the New York State Education Commissioner’s Blue Ribbon Panel on the Math-A Regents Exams. He served on the Commissioner’s Mathematics Standards Committee, which redefined the Standards for New York State. And he currently serves on the New York City schools’ Chancellor’s Math Advisory Panel.

Posamentier earned a Ph.D. in mathematics education from Fordham University (1973), a Master’s degree in mathematics education from the City College of the City University of New York (1966) and an A.B. degree in mathematics from Hunter College of the City University of New York.

Posamentier was born in Manhattan in New York City, the son of Austrian immigrants. He has one daughter (Lisa, born in 1970), and one son (David, born in 1978). He resides in River Vale, New Jersey and is the current Dean of the School of Education and professor of mathematics education at Mercy College, New York. He was formerly professor of mathematics education and dean of the School of Education at The City College of the City University of New York, where he spent the previous 40 years.

Reviews

[Martin Herbordt · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a while this becomes unreadable. How many times do the authors say “but you didn’t learn this in school” or “wouldn’t it have made math so much more interesting if you had learned this in Math class”? Sheesh. Once in the intro would have been more than enough. Isn’t the fact that I bought the book an indication that I wasn’t taught this in school? Or are they hoping a curriculum developer will read the book and be convinced? Yeah – let’s get rid of language (or art or history) so we can spend more time on math. That would work. Maybe more realistic would be to suggest ways that these gems could be integrated into gifted-and-talented curricula. You get the picture. It’s hard to continue reading even a reasonably competent book if you get these moans every few pages. I’m here to enjoy myself (yes really).
The actual material is reasonable. A lot more detailed and basic than your standard popular math book, like computing GCD and squaring numbers quickly. Definitely not organized by larger theme, like applications. In that way it’s not close to The Joy of X, which is just so enjoyable. But it does fill in lots of gaps and provides lots of reminders. Why do the sums of digits in a number have anything to do with divisibility of that number?

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting theorems are explored. Someone who has a math background might see a few new ways to view common problems. On the other hand, a lot of these concepts seem either intuitive or not in-depth enough. Anyone who has taken a college level class in any of the sections has probably seen most (especially probability and the common sense section)

[John Teske · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a number of recreation texts for mathematics.

I completed Mathematics as far as the first year of graduate school, before starting another branch on my life path. Mathematics was a joy to me, and I realized that I could not make it my life's calling.

In retirement, I thought to resurrect my love of mathematics, and I may once again be discovering it is not my calling. Nevertheless, I find recreational mathematics and "mathemagic" to be fun, entertaining, and thought-provoking.

This book is not as good as some I have read/skimmed, but then again, brings home many many major points, and is a good starter.

[Marcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Personally, I liked the beginning of chapter 1 and then chapters 4 and 5 more than the rest of the book. I was reading for fun and didn't particularly want to work through all the proofs to truly learn the material. I was hoping for more fun factoids.

[Ilib4kids]

p140 The origins of trigonometry