Marc Zev - 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Math

Marc Zev is an engineer who has published in the fields of Structural Mechanics and Information Technology. He is the founder and president of the Foundation for Innovative Learning, a non-profit dedicated to enhancing the problem-solving abilities of children and adults. He also owns Pensive Products, which creates educational tools such as Math Flaps, a manipulative specifically designed to teach division. He lives in Chatsworth, California with his wife, two sons, four finches, and dog. He can be reached at Marc@ScienceNaturally.com.

Kevin B. Segal has a Bachelors in Pure Mathematics and a Masters in Applied Mathematics, both from California State University, Fullerton. He also completed four years of postgraduate studies in Applied Mathematics at UCLA. An Associate of the Society of Actuaries, he now works as a charismatic number cruncher. He lives in Chatsworth, California with his wife, daughter, and son. He can be reached at Kevin@ScienceNaturally.com.

Nathan Levy is a prolific writer. Some of his books include Stories with Holes, Whose Clues, and 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science. A gifted educator, Nathan worked directly with children, teachers, and parents in his 35 years as a teacher and principal. He has mentored more than 30 principals and superintendents and trained thousands of teachers in strategies that encourage the love of learning. A resident of Hightstown, NJ, he leads workshops for educators and parents. He can be reached at Nathan@ScienceNaturally.com.

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101 Things Everyone Should Know About Math

Copyright 2016, 2014, 2010 Marc Zev, Kevin B. Segal, and Nathan Levy

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Cover, Book Design, and Section Illustrations by Andrew Barthelmes, Peekskill, NY.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Zev, Marc, 1961

101 things everyone should know about math / Marc Zev, Kevin B. Segal, and Nathan Levy. 1st ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-9678020-3-9

1. MathematicsPopular works. 2. MathematicsJuvenile literature. I. Segal, Kevin B., 1964- II. Levy, Nathan, 1945- III. Title. IV. Title: One hundred one things everyone should know about math. V. Title: One hundred and one things everyone should know about math.

QA93.Z48 2009

510dc22

2008049633

13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4

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Printed in the United States of America.

To Jackie, Jonathan, and Benjamin, who keep me on my toes, challenge me at every turn, and, above all, keep me humble.

Marc Zev

To Rachel, Abby, and Daniel, who taught me the capacity for love is infinite. Also, thanks to everyone who understands that generating random numbers is too important to be left to chance.

Kevin B. Segal

To my granddaughters, Sadie Maguire and Taryn Koslow, two delightful young ladies (in Sadies case, very young) who will influence society in positive ways. I love you both.

Nathan Levy

S everal years ago I founded a non-profit organization with the mission of teaching kids to be better problem solvers. As I met with various community leaders and educators to introduce the Foundation for Innovative Learning, I spent a great deal of time in conversations where I would mention problem solving and they would say things like So, you teach math? I would then have to explain: No, not math specifically, but strategies to make solving all problems easier. So, now after years of telling people that I dont teach math, here I am writing a book that teaches math.

Ironyyouve got to love it!

Although my academic career was oriented towards engineering, it does make sense that I wound up writing a math book. Engineering, after all, is applied physics, and physics is applied math. I see engineering like a building; its structural framework is physics, and the tools used to construct the frame are math. You cant build the frame without the tools, and your building wont stand without the frame. Taking that analogy one step further: some people design tools, some design and build frames, and some people, myself included, take advantage of both to construct the buildings.