Food and Mathematics
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Summary
How does a microwave heat food?
The amazing pressure cooker?
The many uses of a refrigerator's low temperature?
How many calories are in food?
Does food make you fat or thin?
...
Three meals a day—no small matter!
Editor's review
As an editor, I see the book's value in how successfully it breaks down disciplinary barriers, turning math from abstract formulas into a tasty, hands-on experience. Each chapter is like a carefully designed "knowledge dish," with clear theoretical diagrams and practical life suggestions. Especially commendable is the authors' grasp of children's cognitive psychology: using food as a cognitive medium effectively sparks young people's interest in math.
In terms of depth, the book covers basic concepts such as fractions, ratios, geometry, and topology, but all explanations rest on intuitive everyday scenarios. For example, cutting a cake explains equal division, and plating art explores spatial composition—this "concretized" approach is exactly the interdisciplinary thinking that STEM education advocates today. Mini-facts from food culture history are interspersed throughout, giving mathematical exploration a humanistic warmth.
One caveat: the book emphasizes sparking thought rather than advancing knowledge, making it suitable as an introductory guide to mathematical interest. Readers with a strong math foundation may find some explanations too simple. Yet it is precisely this accessible presentation that makes it an excellent bridge between daily life and scientific thinking.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Primary and middle school students who feel intimidated by math and need an engaging introduction
- Food lovers who enjoy cooking and want to explore the science behind food
- STEM educators looking for interdisciplinary teaching cases
- Parents hoping to cultivate their children's observation skills and logical thinking
Not a good fit for
- Professional scholars seeking advanced mathematical theory
- Those who want a purely practical cookbook of recipes
Reading tips
- Read alongside hands-on activities, such as practicing the book's ratio concepts when measuring ingredients
- Organize family activities by chapter theme, e.g., a baking day combined with fraction lessons
- Pay attention to the "Little Thinking Kitchen" section at the end of each chapter—it is key to applying the knowledge
About the publisher
Founded in 1951, Shanxi People's Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for its books on history, culture and fine arts, with a list covering politics, economics, history, culture, ancient texts, art, and textbooks and teaching materials. Judging from the 108 titles in the database, history and biography form an important part of its output: Huang Yongnian's A History of Chinese Politics from the Sixth to the Ninth Century, Zhu Dongrun's Biography of Zhang Juzheng and Agricultural Geography of the Song Dynasty reflect a solid grounding in historical scholarship and ancient texts. In biography and social science it has published works such as Pursuit: Comfort Woman Park Young-hee and Her Sisters. In the areas of inspirational growth and foreign literature, Chinese translations of Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People and How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, and Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, enrich its popular reading list. Its authors include Huang Yongnian, Zhu Dongrun, Dale Carnegie, Hemingway and Su Zhiliang, giving the house an overall profile centred on history, culture and the humanities and social sciences, while also embracing popular inspirational and classic literary titles.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 第一章 电器总动员篇
- 微波炉是如何加热食物的？
- 喝开水才健康
- 电饭煲是怎样煮饭的？
- 神奇的高压锅
- 电磁炉好炒菜
- 冰箱低温用处多
- 第二章 餐桌上的美食篇
- 美味的糖醋排骨
- 早餐要吃好
- 健康营养的午餐
- 晚餐一定要吃！
- “长寿食品”三文鱼
- 牛奶中有什么？
- 食用油是如何做出来的？
- 第三章 美食与数学篇
- 葡萄酒的学问
- 妙发小饼干
- 讨价还价的乐趣
- 招待客人要巧妙
- 食物是如何定价的？
- 茶的妙用
- 少喝可乐好处多
- 第四章 “超级”食物篇
- 食物中有多少热量？
- 食物让你胖还是瘦？
- 过期食品危害大
- 别让病从口入
- 一天中的营养大分配
- 蛋白质丰富的食物
- “超级”食物
- 让大脑聪明的法宝
FAQ
How much math background does this book require?
Does the book contain actual recipes?
Is it suitable as supplementary math reading?
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About the author
Zhishang Mofang is the creative byline used by Beijing Zhishang Mofang Culture Communication Co., Ltd., a professional book studio founded in 2010 that integrates book planning, editing, and design. The studio focuses mainly on popular science for children and has expanded into several other categories. The library holds 19 of its titles, commonly classified under social sciences and popular science. Representative works include Everything Has Mathematics, How Much Do You Know About Mathematical Anecdotes, Chatting About Numbers, How Much Do You Know About Ancient Mathematics, and Wonderful Figures, as well as The King of the Graphic World: Understanding Plane Figures from the series Mathematics Hidden in Stories. These works center on mathematical knowledge and combine abstract concepts with figures, stories, and everyday scenarios in an accessible style suited to young readers. Public information is limited, and further details about the studio's staff and creative process are not available.
