Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society

Gr 9 Up—Rather than teaching mathematical facts or theory, this volume intends to "…weave multilayered connections between society, history, people, applications, and mathematics," thus illustrating how math ties in to the world. The 490 articles cover a diverse range of topics; a few, such as "Comic Strips" and "Writers, Producers, and Actors," are forced. There are many ideas here, though, and enjoyable coverage. The authors explain, for example, that the technology that creates e-ink in e-readers is the same used in scratch-and-sniff stickers. Pieces range from 500 to 3,500 words in length and begin with an identification category ("Arts, Music, and Entertainment"; "Friendship, Romance, and Religion"; "Games, Sport, and Recreation," etc.), related fields of study, and a summary; they close with further-reading recommendations and cross references. Some articles include black-and-white or color photographs or illustrations. Free access to the same content online is included with print purchase. The audience for this work is limited, but it's perfect for math reports that require narrative information and for the next time a student asks, "when will I ever use this in real life?"—Stephanie Farnlacher, Trace Crossings Elementary School, Hoover, AL