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The Number Devil: A Mathematical Adventure

by Hans M Enzensberger

The Number Devil: A Mathematical Adventure Cover

ISBN13: 9780805062991
ISBN10: 0805062998
Condition: Standard
All Product Details

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

The international best-seller that makes mathematics a thrilling exploration.

In twelve dreams, Robert, a boy who hates math, meets a Number Devil, who leads him to discover the amazing world of numbers: infinite numbers, prime numbers, Fibonacci numbers, numbers that magically appear in triangles, and numbers that expand without . As we dream with him, we are taken further and further into mathematical theory, where ideas eventually take flight, until everyone-from those who fumble over fractions to those who solve complex equations in their heads-winds up marveling at what numbers can do.

Hans Magnus Enzensberger is a true polymath, the kind of superb intellectual who loves thinking and marshals all of his charm and wit to share his passions with the world. In The Number Devil, he brings together the surreal logic of Alice in Wonderland and the existential geometry of Flatland with the kind of math everyone would love, if only they had a number devil to teach it to them.

Review:

"This is one devilishly good book for math fans and math phobes alike. It is exactly the book folks are always looking for, wringing their hands and saying, 'Why aren't there more books that show the fun and imaginative parts of math?' Well, here is that book-full of the dreamlike beauty and power of math in a form that most anyone can understand. Guaranteed to send you to Number Heaven/Number Hell (which, as every kid has always known, is one and the same)." (Jon Scieszka, author of The Math Curse)

Synopsis:

Finally available in paperback, the international best-seller that makes math a thrilling adventure for adults and children alike.
In twelve dreams, Robert, a boy who hates math, meets a Number Devil, who leads him to discover the amazing world of numbers: infinite numbers, prime numbers, Fibonacci numbers, numbers that magically appear in triangles, and numbers that expand without end. As we dream with him, we are taken further and further into mathematical theory, where ideas eventually take flight, until everyone-from those who fumble over fractions to those who solve complex equations in their heads-winds up marveling at what numbers can do.

Synopsis:

In 12 dreams, Robert, a boy who hates math, encounters a sly, clever number devil who introduces him to the wonders of numbers: infinite numbers, prime numbers, Fibonacci numbers, and numbers that expand without end.

About the Author

Hans Magnus Enzensberger is the author of many highly lauded books. He lives in Munich, Germany. Rotraut Susanne Berner is an illustrator who lives in Heidelberg. Michael Henry Heim is a prize-winning translator who teaches at U.C.L.A.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 3 comments:
stephreg, August 19, 2008 (view all comments by stephreg)
Can you believe it? A book about mathematics that can be read as a bedtime story! I have read this aloud to my three children numerous times as they grew up. When they got old enough to read, they read it themselves. Our copy is now worn and well loved; my children are all in high school and college and they have all done well in mathematics. This book is a great gift to yourself, your family and your children.
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(8 of 9 readers found this comment helpful)
nadia.jeffrie, October 9, 2006 (view all comments by nadia.jeffrie)
The Number Devil is one of My favourite books and my favouritye part is when Robert learns about hopping numbers, it helped me in my math to.
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(5 of 11 readers found this comment helpful)
sposilovich, September 5, 2006 (view all comments by sposilovich)
I have taught 7th grade, as well as high school Algebra, and The Number Devil really brings the math concepts to life with my students...even the most difficult ones! After reading a chapter to them (with them reading along with me), I assign them the task of creating their own chapter to the book using a selection of their choice from a pre-made list of mathematical concepts. It works great!
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(13 of 20 readers found this comment helpful)
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780805062991
Subtitle:
A Mathematical Adventure
Translator:
Heim, Michael Henry
Author:
Enzensberger, Hans Magnus
Author:
Berner, Rotraut Susanne
Author:
Heim, Michael Henry
Publisher:
Metropolitan Books
Location:
New York
Subject:
Fiction
Subject:
Children's fiction
Subject:
Mathematics
Subject:
Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General
Subject:
Adventure and adventurers
Subject:
Science & Technology - Mathematics
Subject:
Dreams
Subject:
Numbers, natural
Subject:
General Mathematics
Copyright:
Edition Number:
1st Owl Books ed.
Edition Description:
Owl Books
Series Volume:
106-117
Publication Date:
January 1998
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
Elementary and junior high
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Yes
Pages:
262
Dimensions:
9.38x6.18x.64 in. 1.08 lbs.
Age Level:
10-14

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