Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Charlesbridge (2004), Edition: Illustrated, 32 pages
Description
In ancient Greece, young Pythagoras discovers a special number pattern (the Pythagorean theorem) and uses it to solve problems involving right triangles.
User reviews
LibraryThing member kgeorge
"What's Your Angle, Pythagoras?" discusses the concept of the Pythagorean Theorem. The author tells the story of Pythagoras, a young boy, who is very inquisitive about the problems encountered by those around him and is determined to find a solution. He uses patterns to develop the Pythagorean
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Theorem then reveals his ideas to the adults. Although the story is technically fictional, the math concepts and proofs are accurate. The authors includes nice real-life examples of ways to apply the Pythagorean Theorem. She also includes a historical background about the real Pythagoras in the back for the students and historical accuracy. This book is commonly used in math classes as a supplement to a lesson on the Pythagorean Theorem, and I have used it myself in my classes. Show Less
LibraryThing member mapalumbo
What’s your Angle, Pythagoras? is a great book for young learners to discover the mathematical properties of the right angle. Young Pythagoras discovers the right angle and right triangle while on a trip to Alexandria, Egypt and returns home to help the town builders solve a few problems. The
This is the first faction/informational fiction book that I have read. I found this book in the 500 section of the library’s online catalog, so I assumed it was nonfiction. I began to be skeptical when the story told of very detailed discoveries the boy used to solve simple problems the builders could not figure out. The last page of text contains a historical note that says it all. Actual events during Pythagoras’ childhood are not known. So for all I know, this story is completely made up. Many of the aspects of this book are correct like the town in which he was born, his travels to Egypt, and his discovery of the Pythagorean Theorem. I do not understand why the fictional story was created to show Pythagoras’ discoveries. These discoveries could have been displayed in an equally entertaining fashion without characterizing Pythagoras as a child. Considering this book only contains basic mathematical information, does not challenge readers, and had accuracy issues, I will look for a better book about Pythagoras for children to read.
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book has nice colorful drawings of long ago Greece and a wonderfully embedded curious boy named Pythagoras. The book has a modern feel and notes about the author and illustrator are included on the back jacket. Unfortunately…This is the first faction/informational fiction book that I have read. I found this book in the 500 section of the library’s online catalog, so I assumed it was nonfiction. I began to be skeptical when the story told of very detailed discoveries the boy used to solve simple problems the builders could not figure out. The last page of text contains a historical note that says it all. Actual events during Pythagoras’ childhood are not known. So for all I know, this story is completely made up. Many of the aspects of this book are correct like the town in which he was born, his travels to Egypt, and his discovery of the Pythagorean Theorem. I do not understand why the fictional story was created to show Pythagoras’ discoveries. These discoveries could have been displayed in an equally entertaining fashion without characterizing Pythagoras as a child. Considering this book only contains basic mathematical information, does not challenge readers, and had accuracy issues, I will look for a better book about Pythagoras for children to read.
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LibraryThing member alcrumpler
Pythagoras' curiosity causes workmen to dislike him. While on a trip to Egypt with his father, Pythagoras learns about angles. He uses his knowledge to help the workmen and becomes knowledge of angles to help others.
LibraryThing member Skaide1
I had mixed feelings about this book after reading it. I liked the book because it is a good way of implementing literature into a mathematics lesson. The book pushes readers to think about perspectives like math equations, without reading it directly from a textbook. For example, when the two
But I didn't like aspects such as how believable the characters actually were. They were't very well developed, and certainly not believable enough to a young reader. "Still thinking about the problem, he ran home for dinner." This quote mentioned about the main character Pythagoras, just seems a bit unrealistic for a young reader. It doesn't seem like that would be a thought that would grab the readers attention, and lead them into the suspense of reading more. I also didn't like the writing, it wasn't all that engaging, and although it was organized chronologically within the context of the story, the pace just seemed a bit out of whack.
The main message of this book is how to use the pythagorean theorem, which is a key problem in the realms of mat emetics, and I think the main message was not hard to find after reading this book.
All in all, I would maybe consider using this book in a math lesson as a teacher, just for the students to be able to look at math from a different angle. However my dissatisfaction seemed to overcome my satisfaction in the book as a whole, and that is why it would't be me overall first choice.
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workmen were building a temple and began to argue, Pythagoras interjected and said "these columns will never hold up a roof." The author made a broad story out of a smile math problem, and this may be key to reaching some different types of learners in a classroom.But I didn't like aspects such as how believable the characters actually were. They were't very well developed, and certainly not believable enough to a young reader. "Still thinking about the problem, he ran home for dinner." This quote mentioned about the main character Pythagoras, just seems a bit unrealistic for a young reader. It doesn't seem like that would be a thought that would grab the readers attention, and lead them into the suspense of reading more. I also didn't like the writing, it wasn't all that engaging, and although it was organized chronologically within the context of the story, the pace just seemed a bit out of whack.
The main message of this book is how to use the pythagorean theorem, which is a key problem in the realms of mat emetics, and I think the main message was not hard to find after reading this book.
All in all, I would maybe consider using this book in a math lesson as a teacher, just for the students to be able to look at math from a different angle. However my dissatisfaction seemed to overcome my satisfaction in the book as a whole, and that is why it would't be me overall first choice.
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LibraryThing member BethWal94
In this historical fiction book, a boy named Pythagoras sees all these different issues in a different light than other people. As he goes out to Crete with his father to see a master builder, the builder tells him about how he makes things straight and level when he builds. Because of this,
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Pythagoras thinks of the idea that a triangle with the sides that fill the equation A squared plus B squared equals C squared will give him the proper angles he needs to build. Everyone is happy that he found out this new thing because it solved many problems for the people in his town. His father was happy too because the use of the equation allowed him to get to Crete and back faster than ever. Show Less
LibraryThing member TaraKennedy
This was a fictional account of how a young Pythagoras discovered the Pythagorean Theorem regarding right triangles. There are some really awesome pictures illustrating the theorem in a visual way as well that were great! It had a nice story line that was interesting with a conflict (different
Grade 3-5
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problems the theorem was able to find a solution to, like how far it was to another island, and how to make sure buildings were straight). It also showed real-world applications of the theorem. I'd like to have this book in an upper elementary class library for a number of reasons. First, it's a good book. It offers a variety in the content of the fiction books available. It has interdisciplinary application. Grade 3-5
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LibraryThing member rdg301library
Genre: Hybrid - Historical Fiction, Informational
Reading Level: 3.8
Summary:
This book is located in ancient Greece, where a young Pythagoras discovers a special number pattern and must use angles to solve the number pattern.
Reading Level: 3.8
Summary:
This book is located in ancient Greece, where a young Pythagoras discovers a special number pattern and must use angles to solve the number pattern.
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
9.56 inches
ISBN
1570911509 / 9781570911507