Math Decoded
Explaining the Why Behind the Numbers and How They Operate
Corwin Mathematics Series
Mathematics
Experience the joy of answering "why" in math class like never before
Mathematics often feels like a collection of disconnected rules, but what if you could uncover their underlying story? In Math Decoded: Explaining the Why Behind the Numbers and How They Operate, author James Tanton provides educators with a compelling and accessible guide to understanding the logic, purpose, and poetry behind numbers and arithmetic.
Move away from simply teaching formulas and procedures. Instead, discover the coherent and human story of mathematics that will enliven your classroom and deepen your own mathematical knowledge.
By addressing the "why" questions students frequently ask, this book offers clarity on tricky concepts such as dividing by zero, fractions, and negative numbers through these key features:
- Engaging Structure: Each chapter begins with a thought-provoking question, explores real-world scenarios, and culminates in bold insights and classroom activities.
- Grade-Banded Tasks: The book includes classroom activities for elementary to high school, ensuring relevance for multiple grade levels.
- Comprehensive Resources: The text is accompanied by videos, supplemental essays, and practical tools to deepen the learning experience.
- Accessible Style: The book is written in a friendly, relatable tone to explain mathematics’ most mystifying and rigorous topics.
With this book, educators will gain a newfound appreciation for the beauty, structure, and coherence of mathematics. Math Decoded will help you inspire your students to see math not just as a subject, but as an invitation to explore, discover, and think deeply about the joy of numbers.
This is an amazing resource for anyone who wonders, ‘why?’ Mathematician James Tanton takes us into an exploration of mathematical conundrums
and curiosities like dividing by zero, multiplying two negatives, and fraction division, showing us why they work and giving us creative new ideas for helping learners. It is a must-read for all math educators and the mathematically curious.
Math often feels like a play we’ve seen too many times—we know every twist and turn. Or so we thought. In Math Decoded, James Tanton takes us
backstage, revealing surprising depth in even the most familiar concepts, and shows us not only new ways to understand mathematics, but also new ways to teach it more effectively. This is a backstage tour you don’t want to miss.
James Tanton is a gift to mathematics education. There are few people who I consistently learn so much from, and Tanton is one of them. This book
is no exception. His playful and rigorous style makes important questions in K–12 math highly accessible. These are questions that are relevant whether you’re highly experienced or teaching mathematics for the first time. I dare you to read it and not be wowed!
Math Decoded is James Tanton at his brilliant best: playful, profound, and passionately human. I’m constantly inspired by how he makes the abstract
feel alive, and the complex feel inviting. This book isn’t just a masterclass in mathematical insight; it’s a love letter to the ‘why’ that fuels every curious learner.
James Tanton is a master at making complex math ideas easy to understand as readers are presented with concrete examples that
extend to deep, mathematical ideas. Following each big idea, activities are provided to engage your students in topics they (and sometimes teachers) often find confusing. This book is a worthwhile read for any educator.
This is a brilliant resource from a brilliant math educator who excels at unpacking complex mathematical concepts into simple, accessible ideas
for everybody. Tanton brings meaning, clarity, and joy to mathematics. The book masterfully addresses ‘why’ questions, providing profound
insights into numbers and their operations. A must-read for every educator!
Tanton brings to mathematics a quirky ‘what?,’ ‘why?,’ ‘how?’ approach that never fails to arouse curiosity. He’s grabbed my attention on issues
I thought I knew inside-out. For a school-aged audience, his approach can be dynamite. This book is a wonderful, inspiring resource of intriguing questions that bring ‘everyday’ math to life.
A delightful journey into the playful depths of arithmetic. Tanton makes even classic stumpers—like ‘why can’t you divide by zero?’
and ‘what is infinity?’—feel like wondrous invitations to explore. This book is perfect for anyone who finds joy in the quirks and logic of mathematics.
In classic James Tanton fashion, this book takes readers through some of mathematics’ most perplexing questions. James masterfully tackles the timeless student query—’Why do we need to do this?’—and transforms it into an invitation to wonder, discovery, and delight. With his signature joy and clarity, he helps readers make sense of the very problems that once felt out of reach. A much-needed resource that brings the beauty and purpose of mathematics to life!
As math teachers, how many times do we hear ‘Why?’ from our students? I have heard it too many times to count and have been frustrated when I didn’t have the answer. Not anymore! In Math Decoded, James Tanton takes the reader through the story of mathematics that illustrates the power and beauty behind the numbers. In this book, math transforms from stand-alone rules to intertwining concepts. I highly recommend this book to all teachers looking to deepen their own knowledge of mathematics and that of their students.