A MATHEMATICAL DICTIONARY FOR SCHOOLS
(Cambridge University Press) R96,95
Mathematics is a language that will always be the same regardless of where and when it is being used.
I can recall the often mind-boggling volume of calculations in algebra, geometry or trigonometry that had to be understood, remembered and applied in final examinations. This book, designed for learners from grade seven to 12, would certainly have gone a long way to making these journeys less painful.
The size and number of pages cleverly underestimates the volume of its contents, making the book appealing to the current brigade at schools who often practice and think: “I want it all, and I want it now!”
The dictionary format and the simple language used make information easily accessible. The methods of cross-referencing allow the learner to go back to less-understood or remembered concepts and calculations, thus reinforcing their basic knowledge and understanding. I went to the concept of “mass”, for example, and found cross-references in red indicating that I should also look at “weight”.
I did this and found myself going through other pages, looking for “imperial units”, “metric units” and then on to basic units of measurement, just to see where they led to. Learners can very easily go back to basics when grappling with the more difficult sections. The subtlety of the guidance offered is an added bonus in this compact book.
The one drawback is that all the monetary references and calculations are in pounds, rather than in the South African currency.
I strongly recommend that, though this book makes a good reference for the learners it was designed for, it would make an excellent quick-reference for teachers.
Pam Reddy teaches computer literacy to grades one to seven at Durwest Primary in Reservoir Hills in KwaZulu-Natal