Math Decoded
Explaining the Why Behind the Numbers and How They Operate
Series:
Corwin Mathematics Series
Corwin Mathematics Series
January 2026 | 312 pages | Corwin
Experience the joy of answering "why" in math class like never before
Mathematics often feels like a collection of disconnected rules, but what if you could uncover their underlying story? In Math Decoded: Explaining the Why Behind the Numbers and How They Operate, author James Tanton provides educators with a compelling and accessible guide to understanding the logic, purpose, and poetry behind numbers and arithmetic.
Move away from simply teaching formulas and procedures. Instead, discover the coherent and human story of mathematics that will enliven your classroom and deepen your own mathematical knowledge.
By addressing the "why" questions students frequently ask, this book offers clarity on tricky concepts such as dividing by zero, fractions, and negative numbers through these key features
Mathematics often feels like a collection of disconnected rules, but what if you could uncover their underlying story? In Math Decoded: Explaining the Why Behind the Numbers and How They Operate, author James Tanton provides educators with a compelling and accessible guide to understanding the logic, purpose, and poetry behind numbers and arithmetic.
Move away from simply teaching formulas and procedures. Instead, discover the coherent and human story of mathematics that will enliven your classroom and deepen your own mathematical knowledge.
By addressing the "why" questions students frequently ask, this book offers clarity on tricky concepts such as dividing by zero, fractions, and negative numbers through these key features
- Engaging Structure: Each chapter begins with a thought-provoking question, explores real-world scenarios, and culminates in bold insights and classroom activities.
- Grade-Banded Tasks: Includes classroom activities for elementary to high school, ensuring relevance for multiple grade levels.
- Comprehensive Resources: Accompanied by videos, supplemental essays, and practical tools to deepen the learning experience.
- Accessible Style: Written in a friendly, relatable tone to explain mathematics’ most mystifying and rigorous topics.
On the Companion Website
List of Videos
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
Chapter 1: Counting
Chapter 2: Addition
Chapter 3: Negative Numbers
Chapter 4: Distributing the Negative Sign
Chapter 5: Subtraction
Chapter 6: Multiplication
Chapter 7: The Distributive Property
Chapter 8: Multiplication and Zero
Chapter 9: Multiplication and Negative Numbers
Chapter 10: Division
Chapter 11: The Reciprocal Numbers (The Building Blocks of Fractions)
Chapter 12: Fractions Are Answers to Division Problems
Chapter 13: Multiplying Fractions
Chapter 14: Equivalent Fractions
Chapter 15: Dividing Fractions
Chapter 16: Adding and Subtracting Fractions
Chapter 17: Comparing Fractions
Chapter 18: Exponents
Chapter 19: Fractions as Decimals
Chapter 20: Not Every Number is a Fraction
Final Thought: Are there more Numbers
What's Next?
References
Index