The Best of Times: Math Strategies That Multiply

NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Greg Tang takes on the times tables, teaching kids innovative ways to multiply numbers and derive answers WITHOUT memorization.

Four is very fast to do when you multiply by 2.Here's a little good advice --please just always double twice BEST OF TIMES gives kids an intuitive understanding of multiplication, encouraging them to arrive at answers on their own rather than memorizing the times tables. A child who can multiply by two, for instance, can multiply by four and even eight Likewise, times six builds on times two and times three.With his common-sense approach, Greg Tang encourages kids to solve problems creatively, building both their skills and their confidence.

Author: Greg Tang
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Published: 09/01/2002
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 10.28h x 9.38w x 0.41d
ISBN: 9780439210447
Audience: Ages 9-12


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Review - Children 07/15/2002 pg. 1045
PW Notes and Reprints 08/19/2002 pg. 92
School Library Journal 09/01/2002 pg. 218
Booklist 11/01/2002 pg. 502
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2002 pg. 126 - Recommended, Satisfactory
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2003 pg. 126 - Recommended, Satisfactory
Publishers Weekly 08/19/2002

About the Author
Greg Tang was tutoring math in his daughter's class when he noticed something interesting about the dominoes they were using. Each white dot had a pencil mark on it, which meant the children had been counting them one at a time. Mr. Tang taught them to look for patterns instead, and to add and subtract groups of dots in order to calculate the dominoes' value quickly. From there, he developed a new method of teaching arithmetic in a visual and spontaneous way. His method teaches both computational and problem-solving skills, and is so fun and challenging that children forget they are learning math! He believes that all kids are capable of doing well in math, and he has a mission to make math a natural part of every child's life. He has successfully taught his method to children from ages five to ten.Grapes of Math and Math for All Seasons are part of a series of books that will help children gain the range of skills needed for higher math. His books challenge and encourage children to use creativity and common sense to solve problems, rather than formulas and memorization.Greg Tang has an impressive mathematics background. He earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees in economics from Harvard, and he also holds an M.A. degree in Math Education from New York University. He has applied his problem-solving methods in building successful companies and products in a variety of industries. Greg Tang currently lives in Belmont, Massachusetts, with his family.