Show Math Menagerie What is the largest number you can think of Can you make a map of the spherical world on a flat surface How can building Hexagons breaking breaking breaking break break- codes ing and blowing bubbles reveal how mathematics works IN A new book Math Menagerie written for children children children chil chil- dren 12 years and older such cuch math problems are solved using BBs yardsticks screws globes and seesaws Math Menagerie was written written written writ writ- ten by Dr Robert R. R Kadesch professor of physics at the University of Utah as a sequel sequel sequel se se- se- se quel to his book The Crazy Cantilever and Other Science Experiments It is published by Harper and Row Junior Books THE BOOK outlines 25 experiments experiments experiments ex ex- ex- ex which can be performed performed performed per per- formed with simple inexpensive inexpensive inexpensive inex inex- pensive materials found in inthe inthe inthe the home Each experiment teaches leaches a basic principle in mathematics including probability probability probability proba proba- binary numerals mappings mappings mappings map map- pings and transformations and codes Dr Kadesch's page abundantly illustrated book also includes instructions for making a probability pinball machine a a Tower of Hanoi puzzle soap-film soap mathematics instruments seesaw mobiles and other r graphic models used by math math- and physicists MATHEMATICS Ul often involves in involves involves in- in concrete experimentation tion where children can literally literally literally liter liter- ally see how mathematics works says Dr Kadesch |