“When am I ever going to use this?” A look at math’s backstory (and a giveaway!)

Did you know that Pythagoras—famous for his theorem of right triangles—was the leader of a mystical movement whose members were forbidden from eating beans? Or that Fibonacci was actually a nickname for the 12th-century mathematician Leonardo of Pisa? (Click here for a poster featuring more fun facts about him!) There’s so much more to these mathematicians than meets the eye. But middle- and high-school math students memorize and regularly apply their theorems without knowing about the fascinating people behind these discoveries. 

So often, students’ difficulty with math stems from the feeling that what they’re learning is too abstract. Whether you’re a teacher or parent, chances are you’ve confronted the favorite rallying cry of unhappy math students everywhere: “When am I ever going to use this?” One way to counter this feeling is to show students applications of math in real-world situations. At Scholastic MATH, our math magazine for grades 6 through 9, we make an effort to draw these real-world connections in every issue.

Another approach is to introduce students to math’s backstory. Lucky for teachers of math, the subject’s history is rich with colorful characters, unexpected discoveries, and engaging episodes—from fatal duels to cases of hidden identity—all of which can bring mathematical ideas to life.

We know that testing culture leaves little time to stray from the curriculum. But sharing a few quick tidbits of historical context can help students wrap their heads around the significance of the mathematical ideas they’re presented with. Even simple measures, like introducing classroom resources other than textbooks, might help to spark students’ interest in math’s storied history.

With this in mind, we’re giving away five copies of the excellent resource Mathematics: An Illustrated History of Numbers. We hope this collection of landmark “math moments” will inspire your students to explore beyond the equation!

*GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED* Thanks for participating!

GIVEAWAY!  Who’s your favorite mathematician of all time? Leave a comment with your response and you'll be entered to win one of five copies ofMathematics: An Illustrated History of Numbers. Giveaway open to legal U.S. residents only; must be age 18+. Closes at 11:59pm ET on Friday, January 8, 2016. Read the complete legal rules here. 

- Jacqueline Barba, Associate Editor of Scholastic MATH