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Murderous Maths?

11 replies

CrouchingTigger · 03/06/2009 20:40

Hi
My dd has read her way through the Horrible Science/Geographies books, and is now eyeing up Murderous Maths. Are they suitable for a bright Yr 3 child, or would it be best to wait a while? I have very little mathmateical knowledge or ability so don't trust myself to be able to judge. I don't want them to put her off, but she tends to be happy reading anything and everything...
Thanks in advance

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snorkle · 03/06/2009 21:41

Some are suitable and some aren't I'd say. The first couple are quite straightforward - try them & see how she gets on. Avoid the trigonometry one for a while.

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CrouchingTigger · 04/06/2009 10:59

Thanks Snorkle - not sure which are the first one though? I have seen ones about probability shapes, fractions and one about a sausage?!

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snorkle · 04/06/2009 11:52

Well, they're not numbered, so I may be making assumptions, but I always assumed
'muderous maths' was the first
and 'more murderous maths' the second!

'The Phantom X' - algebra
and 'The fiendish angletron' - trig
are probably the hardest and best avoided at least until after the others. Ds came back to the trig one a year or two after having read, but not really followed it first time around.

'the perfect sausage' is also quite hard (it covers circle theorems areas & volumes & stuff and touches on trig too I think, but in a 'push these buttons on your calculator' kind of way, rather than actually explaining it).

'vicious circles & other savage shapes' would be easier than the sausage one lots on triangles & stuff in it.

If she's good at and interested in maths & enjoys the first two then:

'The essential arithmetics'
'Do you feel lucky'
'Numbers the key to the Universe'
and 'The Mean & Vulgar bits'

would probably be the next ones in difficulty(ish) after the first two. (I'm guessing a bit though).

There are some puzzle books too.

Ds was another would read anything & everything type child & started getting these out of the library & reading them in about year 3 (but he's also very good at and very interested in maths). In about year 5 I saw the whole set on discount somewhere (probably the book people) & as I'd noticed him seeking them out at the library repeatedly I bought the lot. Not sure really if his abilities in maths stem from his obsession with these books or vice-versa - it may well be a bit of both (he was good at maths since before he started on the books, but now he's very good at it iyswim).

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Bink · 04/06/2009 22:31

The thing that series does brilliantly is bring out the shapes and feelings that underlie numeracy - so it's not just about how addition works, or different kinds of measurement, but it's about sequential patterns and essential formulae and logical leaps. Card tricks and probability short-cuts and so on.

My ds is pretty innately mathematical, but his ability to lateral-think, and see exactly what trick a puzzle is getting at, and spot connections between things, is definitely down to the guru that is Kjartan Poskitt.

(I am going to boast. His class (yr5) just did a maths puzzle test to see who'd be in a four-child team for a competition. The team members who got 2nd, 3rd & 4th place in the team got 40% and both 30% respectively; ds was top - and got 85%. But the point is, that isn't just ds, that's Murderous Maths.)

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FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 04/06/2009 22:33

Ds read all of these in year 1, he's in year 5 now and still reads them he loves them so much.

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smartiejake · 04/06/2009 22:38

There is a website called "Murderous Maths" which my DD aged 10 (bit of a boffin) has really been enjoying. Lots of puzzles and maths type games.
Have a look here

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CrouchingTigger · 05/06/2009 11:44

Thanks very much ladies, very helpful posts .
Off to search for the best deal

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FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 05/06/2009 15:03

Waterstones are doing a 3 for 2 on these at the moment I think.

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CrouchingTigger · 05/06/2009 22:35

Thanks FBGB. Have also found 10 for £10 at Red House - some orginal books and some puzzle books - looks good

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spacepancakes · 11/10/2009 21:48

Any advice on what to buy ds after she has finished these in the maths line?

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notanidea · 11/10/2009 23:33

DD finished reading these in Year 3 and really enjoyed it.

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