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Ask Slashdot: Math-Related Present For a Bright 10-Year-Old?
peetm writes: I have an above averagely bright nephew, aged 10, who's into maths and whose birthday is coming up soon. I'd like to get him a suitable present – most likely one that's mathematically centred. At Christmas we sat together while I helped him build a few very simple Python programs that 'animated' some simple but interesting maths, e.g., we built a factorial function, investigated the Collatz conjecture (3n + 1 problem) and talked about, but didn't implement Eratosthenes' Sieve – one step too far for him at the moment perhaps. I've looked about for books that might blend computing + maths, but haven't really found anything appropriate for a 10-year-old. I should be indebted to anyone who might suggest either a suitable maths book, or one that brings in some facet of computing. Or, if not a book, then some other present that might pique his interest.
haven't really found anything appropriate for a 10-year-old.
Don't buy something appropriate for a 10 year old. Buy something appropriate for a 15 year old, and let him grow into it as opposed to him growing out of it.
Jesus Christ, just buy the kid a bike, or a baseball glove, or rollerblades, or a football.
Maintaining peak physical form is essential for having a robust mind, which is essential for doing mathematics.
It might also help prevent him from becoming a total autist like so many other kids who were forced into math and science at a young age are.
If I had any mod points, I would boost this up. Robo Rally is a fun game. I would also go with other games that are math intensive, but not math focused. Something like Formula D, Ticket to Ride, Ka-Ching