Can anyone suggest a book, relating to mathematics, suitable for a boy entering the seventh grade. He shows a real interest in the subject.

It might help if you narrowed down what you're looking for. What subjects has he covered? Is he in algebra yet? Has he already advanced on his own? Would he enjoy an information introduction to calculus? Or are you looking for math history? Biography? Philosophy?

Answers to these sorts of questions may help us readers give you more useful suggestions. Thank you.

He will be taking algebra for the first time. A book on math history might be good.

Thank You

Actually, a study of the history of math would require that he already understand a fair amount of algebra. I would strong recommend against a study of math history, at least until he is further along, or he will very likely not be able to follow the discussions.

He might enjoy books about math, such as books authored by Theoni Pappas or Ivars Peterson (although Peterson's books might be a bit advanced).

I do not mean to discourage you or your son -- far from it -- but algebra is the toolbox that is used in every other part of mathematics. In order to discourse on math, your son will need the grounding he will get from learning algebra first. However, once he has covered algebra (and a little trig and calculus will help, too), he will find broad vistas opened up to him.

Books by M. Gardner make superb reading. I like S. Barr's Experiments in Topology as a nice introduction into a kind of mathematics that is different from the school variety. Many math history books show mathematics as a human, evolving branch of knowledge. I would look into E. T. Bell's Men of Mathematics or J. Nuir Of Men & Numbers. But there are many more that your boy might like. Logical puzzles by R. Smullyan do not require any math knowledge.

You may want perhaps to get a copy of, say, E. Kasner and J. Newman's Mathematics and Imagination that covers many different topics and see which ones your son is more curious about. Perhaps you can read and work out the books together with your son.

Perhaps also, "Innumeracy", by John Allen Paulos. Its a great book primarily intended to discuss society's lack of understanding of mathematics, but if nothing else, is a great introduction to probability, and really gets the reader going, knowing that he/she can use math to analyze and predict real world situations and outcomes. Easily understandable by the 7th grader.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0809058405/qid=1026946291/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-9117493-4686408

If your son truly has an interest in the fundamentals of mathematics as a whole he might enjoy a fantastic book I read recently called "Mathematics: The Science of Patterns", by Keith Devlin. It's not overly technical, and it covers various topics such as counting, motion and chance, shape, and symmetry, and gives a general history of the development of mathematics as a whole. Although there are some parts which are a bit complicated, the book doesn't assume specific knowledge of any particular area of mathematics, and I'm guessing a bright kid possessing an elementary education should find the majority of the text comprehensible and intriguing. Any Barnes & Noble, Borders, or similar book store should carry it. Hope this suggestion is helpful.

Robert, I ran across another book recently titled "Introducing Mathematics" by Ziauddin Sardar which he might like. I haven't read it myself, but it looked like it would be a fun and intriguing introduction to the subject, suitable for a boy with an elementary education and an interest in math. You should be able to find it at any Barnes & Noble, Boarders, or other major bookstore. Hope that's helpful.:)

I cantell you the perfect books,for i have had quite a search indeed!

What a great start!

Hear is a list for building deep understanding and problemsolving ability.
note: Some high school courses,and teachers are incompetent,beaware. Maths is great fun and stimulation,but at the worst its drill
and factual learning.

Dover publishershaveexellent cheap stuff (like thefirst two books)
a cataloge is free.
iANSTUART ANDMARTIN GARDNER are great.

1.The moscow puzzles by Boris A. Kordemsky

This is mathematical puzzlesvery easy to very hard, needing no actual knowldge really- doeshelp,butit is common sense which it workson, to build problemsolvingandgaininginsits through puzzles.
MY FAV. CHAPTER IS "SKILL WILL FIND ITS APPLICATION EVERYWHERE"
(dam caps!)
Martin gardneris good too.

2. Amusements in mathematics by Dudney
bit like above, more puzzles,but 1. is better,i think.

3.what is mathematics by courant and robbins.
bit advanced at some parts, but i think important for whole high school.
4. some ofthe juniour mathematical olympics handbooks.

-imaginationlogic@lexicon.net