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Ask Slashdot: Math-Related Present For a Bright 10-Year-Old?

Posted by timothy on from the but-books-get-better-with-age dept.

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.

15 of 238 comments (clear)

  1. Buy a something he can grow into by QuietLagoon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

    1. Re:Buy a something he can grow into by TWX · · Score: 2

      Couple of things to look for products that might be appropriate...

      The metric system was built to allow simple conversions, with 1:1 relationships between energy, mass, volume, temperature, etc. Something like that could be handy as it explains those relationships if it plays with them.

      For me, physics-through-calculus was a lot better than physics as taught by the high school physics program. Specifically we learned how distance, velocity, and acceleration are derivatives. This is a real-world application for the math, and being able to see how the math actually does something in real life makes it a lot more fun to learn it. Calculus is probably too advanced for even a precocious ten year old, but there might othe mathematics disciplines with their own real-world components that would be good to explore.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    2. Re:Buy a something he can grow into by houstonbofh · · Score: 2

      lol, you really do not know 10 year olds do you?

      I know some treated like 5 year olds, and some treated like 15 year olds. Which ones do you think are more mature?

    3. Re:Buy a something he can grow into by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 2

      Agreed, as I posted here ...

      - - -

      I don't have any recommendations for the 10 year old, but in a few years I'd recommend these around ages ~12-18, give or take a few.

      This is a great math/philosophy book disguised as a comic book.
      * Logicomix: An epic search for truth

      This is a fun computer science, math, philosophy, linguistics book:
      * Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid (stupid /. can't even display an umlaut o)

      As is this one:
      * An Adventurer's Guide to Number Theory [amazon.com]

      A mostly dry theoretical book but has a few pics here and there. Depending on how serious & inquisitive he is, it may provide enough material to pique his curiosity / interest in Mathematics for ages.
      * Where Mathematics Comes From

      Hope this gives you some ideas!

      --
      Addition is a matter of perspective:
      1+1=2 (Mathematics)
      1+1=1 (Marriage)
      1+1+1=1 (Meta-Physics)

  2. Robo Rally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Look for Robo Rally. It is a programming-based multi-player hands-on board game that is much more fun than the simpler Robot Turtles.

    1. Re:Robo Rally by PackMan97 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      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

  3. Analog computer by cyberpunkrocker · · Score: 2

    Slide rule?

  4. Re:its "Math" not "Maths".... by GerryGilmore · · Score: 2

    The poster is likely from the UK or somewhere similar where "maths" is perfectly correct. Like where we in America will say "a company is..." they are likely to say "a company are...". A bit stilted to American ears, but normal usage for them. Lighten up!

  5. Rubik's cube by mdsolar · · Score: 3, Interesting

    My son, who decided to ace the math portion of the SAT, spends time with a Rubik's cube.

  6. More than a book by spaceman375 · · Score: 2

    How about Kerbal Space Program? The physics simulation is spot on. Folks from NASA (including Randall Munroe) to Elon Musk recommend it, yet it's also great for kids.

    --
    On the one hand you take life too seriously, and on the other, you do not take playful existence seriously enough. Seth
  7. Re:Buy him sports equipment. by rfengr · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Get him into fencing; physical chess. For a sport, the people are pretty intellectual, and it hones aggressiveness, which most intellectual types need.

  8. Martin Gardner book(s) by meloneg · · Score: 2

    Almost anything written by Martin Gardner should be approachable by a math-favoring 10-year-old. Anything from puzzle books to essays about famous mathematicians.

  9. Martin Gardner books by call+-151 · · Score: 2

    There are a bunch of good Martin Gardner books to consider. A couple of possibilities are:

    • "Entertaining Mathematical Puzzles" has a great range of puzzles across a range of topics
    • "Codes, Ciphers and Secret Writing" though not explicitly about math, has lots of good engaging content. Kids of that age often love codes.
    • Various "Aha" /"Gotcha" series ones
    • various logic puzzle ones

    These are generally good in that they encourage mathematical thinking and analysis and don't rely much on prerequisite material. And they are well done, with a good playful attitude about things. And they are often Dover books and reasonably priced, as well!

    --
    It's psychosomatic. You need a lobotomy. I'll get a saw.
  10. Sextant by AntronArgaiv · · Score: 2

    $50 here: http://www.amazon.com/Davis-Ma...
    $17 - Copy of Bowditch (tells you all you need to know to use the sextant)
    http://www.amazon.com/American...

  11. Project Euler and VS by PJ6 · · Score: 2

    Both are free.

    https://projecteuler.net/archives
    https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/products/visual-studio-express-vs.aspx