E-Book Overview
Flummoxed by formulas? Queasy about equations? Perturbed by pi? Now you can stop cursing over calculus and start cackling over Math, the newest volume in Bill Robertson's accurate and amusing Stop Faking It! books. Like the other six titles in this award-winning NSTA Press series, Math is meant for homework-helping parents, math-averse science teachers, and homeschoolers. It's written for everyone who lacks the background to teach with confidence and is sick of relying on avoidance strategies. As Robertson sees it, too many people view mathematics as a set of rules to be followed, procedures to memorize, and theorems to apply. This book takes a unique approach by focusing on the reasoning behind the rules, from math basics all the way up to a brief introduction to calculus. Among the questions it covers: Why do you 'carry' numbers when adding? Why do you need a common denominator when adding fractions? (Robertson says you don't, by the way!) What's behind the process of cross-multiplying? Where does the number pi come from? And who in the heck invented those strange formulas for area and volume? As usual, Robertson provides clear explanations, irreverent illustrations, and easy-to-follow activities. But he spares you problem sets to do or tests to take. That's because Math is not so much a book that will help you do math as it is a guide to understanding it conceptually.
E-Book Content
Stop Faking It! Finally Understanding Science MATH So You Can Teach It Stop Faking It! Finally Understanding Science MATH Arlington, Virginia So You Can Teach It Claire Reinburg, Director Judy Cusick, Senior Editor Andrew Cocke, Associate Editor Betty Smith, Associate Editor Robin Allan, Book Acquisitions Coordinator ART AND DESIGN Will Thomas, Director Brian Diskin, Illustrator PRINTING AND PRODUCTION Catherine Lorrain-Hale, Director Nguyet Tran, Assistant Production Manager Jack Parker, Electronic Prepress Technician NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION Gerald F. Wheeler, Executive Director David Beacom, Publisher Copyright © 2006 by the National Science Teachers Association. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. 08 07 06 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Robertson, William C. Math/by William C. Robertson. p. cm.—(Stop faking it! finally understanding science so you can teach it) Includes index. ISBN 0-87355-240-7 1. Mathematics—Study and teaching—Popular works. I. Title. II. Series: Robertson, William C. Stop faking it! Q11.2.R63 2006 510.071—dc22 2005033676 NSTA is committed to publishing quality materials that promote the best in inquiry-based science education. However, conditions of actual use may vary and the safety procedures and practices described in this book are intended to serve only as a guide. Additional precautionary measures may be required. NSTA and the author(s) do not warrant or represent that the procedure and practices in this book meet any safety code or standard or federal, state, or local regulations. NSTA and the author(s) disclaim any liability for personal injury or damage to property arising out of or relating to the use of this book including any recommendations, instructions, or materials contained therein. Permission is granted in advance for photocopying brief excerpts for one-time use in a classroom or workshop. Requests involving electronic reproduction should be directed to Permissions/NSTA Press, 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22201-3000; fax 703-526-9754. Permissions request for coursepacks, textbooks, and other commercial uses should be directed to Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Dr., Danvers, MA 01923; fax 978-646-8600; www.copyright.com. Contents Preface ........................................................................................