When the schools in Jeremy's town ban math, there are cheers from the kids. Jeremy's best friend Sam, sets out to prove that math is not only important, but also fun. In the chapters that follow, Sam reveals math's presence in everyday places, including sports (types of triangles determine how a bike functions), art (artist M.C. Escher combines math patterns with imagination) and nature (ants instinctively calculate dead reckoning - a navigation tool also used by astronauts). Sidebars offer Jeremy's thoughts on concepts that range from chaos theory to cash prizes for new prime numbers. In the end, Jeremy, his teachers and the Director of Education admit that school minus math equals trouble. The book also includes brief biographies of seven mathematicians, illustrations, diagrams, a glossary and an index.--Ministry of Education website.

Mathematics grade 8 (2008). Includes index.