Math Magic: The Human Calculator Shows How to Master Everyday Math Problems in Seconds

The man nationally known as "the Human Calculator" shows readers the traditional disciplines of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division and shows them how to use those disciplines to attend to their finances. 50,000 first printing. $32,500 ad/promo.

Flansburg, "the human calculator" and author of the popular video, Turn on the Human Calculator in You , seeks to improve math education by introducing tricks for performing accurate mental calculations and fun alternate approaches to common math class difficulties. Students are motivated to learn by the chance to show off by quickly solving difficult-looking math problems. Included are ways to simplify problems, tricks for special instances, and explanations of common numerical systems like measurements, calendars, time zones, and prices. One disappointment is that no explanation is offered for some of the most interesting calculation tricks work. Still, in the hands of an enthusiastic teacher, many of these ideas could add excitement to math class. This is a school-oriented pre-algebra course with a little consumer math thrown in. A crash course in algebra is included near the end.
- Amy Brunvand, Fort Lewis Coll., Durango, Col.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.