Grade 6-9–From concept to copyediting, this unwieldy survey of applied mathematics falls short in nearly every aspect. Each of the 80 alphabetically arranged chapters, from Addition to Zero-Sum Games, takes on a curriculum-centered topic. They open with a definition, close with a brief list of further sources, and in between quickly lay out fundamental terms and ideas, historical background, and descriptions of Real-life Applications. The latter often include word (rarely number) examples, but also tend to be nonspecific, if not outright simplistic online purchasing over a secure connection is safe, for instance, because hackers can't decode the content even if they somehow manage to intercept the message somehow. Under Algebra, the entry on making tradeoffs between lifespan and voltage when Buying Light Bulbs assumes that small variations in voltage are an option. In addition, despite substantial duplication of topics, there are no see references to connect related entries, such as those for carbon dating or sports wagering. Printed in two large volumes of dense, double-columned, seldom-illustrated text, this is less likely than the textbooks that it is supposed to compliment [sic], or actual workbooks such as Terry Cooper's Real Life Math (Scholastic, 2002), to attract or change the attitudes of reluctant students.–John Peters, New York Public Library Read more...
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