From Library Journal Flansburg, "the human calculator" and author of the popular video, Turn on the Human Calculator in You , seeks to improve math education by introducing tricks for performing accurate mental calculations and fun alternate approaches to common math class difficulties. Students are motivated to learn by the chance to show off by quickly solving difficult-looking math problems. Included are ways to simplify problems, tricks for special instances, and explanations of common numerical systems like measurements, calendars, time zones, and prices. One disappointment is that no explanation is offered for some of the most interesting calculation tricks work. Still, in the hands of an enthusiastic teacher, many of these ideas could add excitement to math class. This is a school-oriented pre-algebra course with a little consumer math thrown in. A crash course in algebra is included near the end.
