Mathematics a Dictionary of How to Do It
This 92 page booklet purports to be a dictionary of mathematics but is somewhat more than that. It provides simple definitions of key terms from ‘accuracy’ to ‘y = mx + c’; for example under the entry ‘degree’, we have:
"Degree in mathematics is the unit that we use to measure in angles. The symbol for degrees is °. There are 360° in a circle, 180° in a semi-circle and 90° in a right angle. (See also angles and bearings)."
Cross-references are shown in italics. Most of the entries are illustrated with line diagrams and also contain examples how to do the maths; providing clear and concise examples of the topic. As such, it could provide a useful resource for GCSE students.
It also contains a number of interesting (and some not so interesting) interludes. The best give brief biographies of female mathematicians.
My reservations with the booklet are that it has an uninspiring layout and its lack of coverage of the present GCSE syllabus. Regarding layout, the headings are in bold but of the same typeface as the rest of the text, the diagrams have different sized typefaces and sometimes some are so small so as to be unreadable, also it is in black and white throughout. There are a number of production errors: some of the diagrams obscure the text, occasionally the typeface changes without reason. On page 65 the graph axes are not labelled!
Its coverage reflects its date of publication. There is no entry for time-series averages, proof, stem and leaf diagrams and box and whisker diagrams; whereas, trapezium rule (under area under graphs), standard deviation, normal distribution are included. The range of material covered is broadly GCSE from foundation to higher and in this sense it tries to do too much.
However, reservations above notwithstanding, it would make a useful resource for a school or college library.
Steve Bishop
Maths Lecturer, City of Bristol College, Bristol
Mathematics a Dictionary of How to Do It
Julie Gibbon
Claire Publications, Colchester
2001
ISBN 1 871098 81 5
Review Sections
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