Fractions in Disguise: A Math Adventure (Charlesbridge Math Adventures) - Hardcover

Einhorn, Edward

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1570917736 ISBN 13: 9781570917738

Publisher: Charlesbridge, 2014

Synopsis

Crack the case with George Cornelius Factor in this entertaining math adventure that introduces simplified and reduced fractions with equal parts intrigue and humor.

When a valuable fraction goes missing, George Cornelius Factor (a.k.a. GCF) vows to track it down. Knowing that the villainous Dr. Brok likes to disguise his ill-gotten fractions, GCF invents a Reducer—half ray gun, half calculator— that strips away the disguise, reducing the fraction to its lowest common denominator and revealing its true form. With the Reducer in hand, George seeks out Dr. Brok in hopes of retrieving the missing fraction.

Back matter includes more detail on simplifying, or reducing, fractions.

About this title

About the Author

Edward Einhorn is the author of A Very Improbable Story: A Math Adventure, as well as two Wizard of Oz sequels, The Living House of Oz and Paradox in Oz (Hungry Tiger Press, 2005 and 1999, respectively). Edward lives in New York City.

Reviews

Gr 2–5—When the coveted 5/9 fraction is stolen from auction by the mysterious Dr. Brok, it is up to George Cornelius Factor to find the missing fraction and return it to its proper place. Knowing that Dr. Brok is notorious for disguising fractions (such as by turning 1/2 into 2/4 or 3/6), George invents the Reducer, a ray gun combined with a calculator, paper clips, whisk, and computer parts that reduces fractions to their lowest terms. Only after finding a missing sliver of Dr. Brok's 34/63 fraction (thus becoming 35/63) and turning on the Reducer does George-voila!-find the 5/9 fraction. Although the mathematical procedure for simplifying fractions is provided in the illustrations, younger readers may need the assistance of an adult to fully grasp the concept. A closing "Reducing Fractions" page includes step-by-step instructions for finding both the greatest and lowest common denominators to properly reduce fractions. A fun mathematical addition to library collections.—Meaghan Darling, Plainsboro Public Library, NJ

Instead of baseball cards or action figures, George collects fractions (illustrated as thick round discs mounted, trophy-like, on pedestals). At an auction, the tuxedo-clad boy competes against three rivals, including the nefarious Dr. Brok. The bidding for a coveted 5/9 approaches one million dollars when the lights go out and the fraction disappears. So does Dr. Brok. Armed with a homemade gizmo for reducing fractions, George follows the scoundrel to his mansion, where the boy must find the treasured 5/9, cleverly hidden in plain sight. A playwright, Einhorn manages to keep up the dramatic tension between the intrepid hero and the sneering villain while slipping in bits of fraction-wrangling information along the way. Using a restrained palette, cartoonist Clark boosts the story’s comedy and its drama with his exaggerated portrayals of the characters and their actions. An appended page tells and shows how to reduce a fraction, an idea that even noncollectors may find useful. This amusing book could help lessen the all-too-common fear of fractions. Grades 1-3. --Carolyn Phelan

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Some kids collect baseball cards. Some collect action figures. Me? I collect fractions. I've been collecting them for exactly ? of my life. In my bedroom, shelves full of fractions cover ¾ of my walls. Maybe it's because I was born during a half moon. Or maybe it's because I'm ¼ genius, ¼ stubborn, ? determined, and ? crazy. But for me, it all adds up to one thing: I can't get enough of those darn fractions.

Edition details

• Publisher: Charlesbridge
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1570917736
• ISBN 13: 9781570917738
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Clark David
• Number of pages: 32