Transportation and Mathematics

Name: Transportation and Mathematics
ISBN: 9787203126751

纸上魔方Shanxi People's Publishing House · ChinaJul 2024

3.5

Word count: 26K words
Chapters: 29
ISBN: 9787203126751

Report an error Find this book

Summary

This is an engaging popular science series on mathematics, covering food, the human body, medicine, architecture, physics, the military, transportation, ancient mathematics, and other math-related fields. Wide-ranging in scope and lively in storytelling, it is an excellent choice for cultivating children's interest in math and mathematical thinking. Through vivid language, humorous cartoons, and everyday examples, the series breaks complex mathematical concepts down into simple ideas—children will understand them at a glance and be able to put them to use right away!

Why are the bows of ships pointed?

How fast is a supersonic plane, really?

What math connects car gears and speed?

Why are roadbeds trapezoid-shaped?

What math can you find on a bus stop sign?

...

Once you've learned all this, getting around town will be easier than ever!

Editor's review

Transportation and Mathematics is a clever interdisciplinary introduction that skillfully embeds abstract mathematical concepts in familiar transportation scenarios. The author, Paper Magic Cube, is a well-known Chinese creator of children's science books, whose work is characterized by rich illustrations and clear logic. This book is neither a workbook of math exercises nor a handbook of traffic rules; its core value lies in building a framework of "situated learning." Through concrete examples such as traffic light cycles, the alignment design of overpasses, optimal bus route planning, and parking space calculations, it makes mathematical ideas—distance, time, speed, shapes, permutations and combinations, optimization—visible and tangible. This approach, which starts from everyday phenomena and then distills mathematical principles, aligns with how children learn and can effectively reduce any sense of unfamiliarity or intimidation toward math. The illustrations are lively, and the examples are drawn from daily life, making the book highly relatable. For upper-elementary students, it is an excellent supplementary reader that helps them understand "what math is good for" and thus sparks intrinsic interest in learning. Its depth is moderate, making it well suited as an introductory guide to applied mathematics; however, readers seeking systematic knowledge advancement or problem-solving technique training may need to pair it with more specialized materials.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Upper-elementary students who find math dull and hope to discover its practical appeal
Parents and teachers looking for interdisciplinary STEAM or math enrichment examples
Young readers interested in the science hidden in everyday life who enjoy observing and thinking
Readers who need accessible, easy-to-understand examples to help them grasp real-world applications of basic math concepts

Not a good fit for

Those seeking systematic math instruction or extensive problem practice for exam preparation
Upper-secondary students or adults with a strong math foundation who wish to explore more advanced mathematical theory

Reading tips

Use the book's transportation scenarios as prompts for real-world observation and verification during daily travel—for example, calculating the relationship between time and speed on a route
Don't try to grasp every math concept in one sitting; start with the everyday scenarios that interest you and expand gradually
Try applying the book's approach to other areas of life, such as shopping or sports, by designing your own simple mini-projects on "math and life"

About the publisher

Shanxi People's Publishing House China · Founded in 1951

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.

版权信息
第一章五花八门的交通工具
为什么船头要做成尖角的形状？
什么车骑上不容易摔倒？
自行车上共有多少种图形呢？
超音速飞机到底有多快？
如何知道一艘船能装多少人？
你知道什么是轮船的吨位吗？
第二章中国铁路小知识
不容小觑的载客量
四通八达的中国铁路网
列车车次是如何编号的？
你知道火车双轨间的距离吗？
大城市为什么要建地铁？
列车时刻表里的数学知识
第三章汽车知识“加油站”
汽车排量知多少？
汽车挡位与时速的数学关系
汽车的“身份证”
为什么路基都是梯形的？
交通信号灯颜色的由来
第四章交通知识趣谈
公交车站牌上的数学知识
你不知道的速度单位——节
船帆的形状与作用
国道的名称中数字代表什么？
高速公路的好伙伴——路牌
弯曲的高速公路
高速公路上的汽车“生病”了怎么办？

FAQ

What is this book's Douban rating?

Public ratings and discussion for this book on mainstream book review sites are limited, which may be due to its relatively niche subject focus and publication date. Its value is better judged through its content positioning and reader word of mouth.

What age group is this book suitable for?

Based on its content and presentation, it is primarily aimed at students in grades 3 to 6 (roughly ages 8–12). Younger children can read the pictures and stories with parental support, while older children can explore the mathematical connections independently.

How does this book relate to school math textbooks?

The book supplements and extends the textbook rather than replacing it. It is not organized by textbook chapters; instead, it takes a thematic scenario (transportation) as its main thread and integrates multiple mathematical topics, aiming to build application awareness and interdisciplinary thinking. It can be used as an extracurricular interest reader.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

纸上魔方 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.