
Math Hacks for Scratch
Unlock the Power of Math with Scratch Programming
Michael Mays(Author)
No Starch Press
Published on 12. November 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-1-7185-0338-0 (ISBN)
Description
If you're a student looking for project ideas to practice your math and coding skills, or a Scratch enthusiast just looking for something different, this is the book for you! Scratch is mainly used to learn programming and design computer games, but it has plenty of other useful applications - like solving maths problems. This book reveals the block-based coding system's mathematical superpowers, guiding you through over 20 hands-on projects that investigate a variety of interesting numerical puzzles. You'll quickly find that core math concepts, like number representations, divisibility, and cryptography, are fun to code using Scratch. In addition to learning how to hack Scratch to get it to work with numbers in unusual ways, you'll discover efficient algorithms for making time-consuming computations a snap. Along the way, you'll see how the right mathematical or programming trick can simplify a seemingly complex task, as you think through bonus coding challenges that further promote independent experimentation while improving both your math and programming skills.
Reviews / Votes
"Inspired by the author's grandchildren, this book offers up a playful approach to mathematics learning using the block-based coding language pioneered by Scratch. Dr. Michael Mays has done a compelling job of using a creative coding platform to enliven and enrich young people's engagement with math, by using coding to engage with numbers, puzzles, and patterns."-Margaret Honey, President & CEO, Scratch Foundation
"Michael Mays' Math Hacks for Scratch is a combination of code and calculation that I wish I had as a student. It takes the challenges you find in math books and adds a Scratch programming twist. These 33 projects are more fun than doing math on a boring whiteboard."
-Al Sweigart, software developer and bestselling author of Automate the Boring Stuff with Python
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
San Francisco
United States
Target group
Young adult
US School Grade: Fifth Grade and over, Interest Age: From 10 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 227 mm
Width: 180 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
561 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-7185-0338-0 (9781718503380)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
10/2024
No Starch Press
€19.49
Available for download
Person
Michael Mays has a PhD in mathematics from Penn State University. His teaching career at West Virginia University spanned 40 years, including roles as director of the Institute for Math Learning and chair of the Department of Statistics. His innovative approach to math education has earned him recognition as an Eberly Teaching Professor.
Content
Introduction
Chapter 1: What Computers Think About Numbers
Chapter 2: Exploring Divisibility and Primes
Chapter 3: Splitting Numbers With Priem Factorization
Chapter 4: Finding Patterns in Sequences
Chapter 5: From Sequences to Arrays
Chapter 6: Making Codes, and Cracking Them Too
Chapter 7: Experiments in Counting
Chapter 8: Three Helpings of Pi
Chapter 9: What Next?
Appendix: Programming Challenge Hints
Chapter 1: What Computers Think About Numbers
Chapter 2: Exploring Divisibility and Primes
Chapter 3: Splitting Numbers With Priem Factorization
Chapter 4: Finding Patterns in Sequences
Chapter 5: From Sequences to Arrays
Chapter 6: Making Codes, and Cracking Them Too
Chapter 7: Experiments in Counting
Chapter 8: Three Helpings of Pi
Chapter 9: What Next?
Appendix: Programming Challenge Hints