Books to build mathematical understanding in Years 9 and 10

As your teenager’s mathematical understanding continues to grow, they may be curious to learn even more about different mathematical concepts, tools and strategies. These five compelling books offer insights into various ideas and reveal the ways that maths surrounds us in our lives!

Why Do Buses Come In Threes? - The Hidden Mathematics In Everyday Life

Written by Rob Eastaway and Jeremy Wyndham.

Ever wondered where and how maths exists in our everyday lives? This book explores the maths inherent in dating, buying a lottery ticket, cooking, and saving lives.

Here's Looking At Euclid: From Counting Ants To Games Of Chance - An Awe-Inspiring Journey Through The World Of Numbers

Written by Alex Bellos.

From Japan, to Manhattan, to the Amazon Rainforest, this book takes your teen on a journey of mathematical accomplishments through history. Sharing stories about some of the most influential mathematicians, this book explores origami, puzzles, Pi, and different ways of counting.

Curious: Life Hacks Through Maths

Written by Lily Serna.

This book can show your teen how to kick goals and win arguments and games using maths. It explores some of the mathematics in magic tricks, sport and mastering the perfect pancake.

If you’ve ever complained about being stuck in a queue at the supermarket, reading this book might help you avoid such a situation ever again!

Genius: The Game

Written and illustrated by Leopoldo Gout.

This young adult novel may be of interest to any teens who love an intriguing read. In a competition set up by the world’s youngest CEO, three online friends - a coder, a self-taught engineer and a girl with a talent for sniffing out corruption - are faced with difficult ethical choices in a world under surveillance.

Mathematics: The Science Of Patterns; The Search For Order In Life, Mind And The Universe

Written by Keith Devlin.

Our brains are great at detecting patterns - sometimes without us even realising! This book can help show your teen how we all have this innate human ability… and show them how this skill can help them with other mathematical ideas.

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