W E Cookson

Descent Into Infinity, a Numba Jungle MathVenture

Prime Numbers and how to find them at a glance.

Let’s get 10 to teens exploring number patterns while exploring the perilous perils of the Arrappa-wappa-wuppa rainforests in this rippin’ yarn adventure with Mad Maps Mitchell and his downtrodden, yet ever-faithful, sidekick, Hummy.

Descent Into Infinity is an amusing jungle adventure with a bit of mathematics - only a bit! Whether a whiz at mathematics or lacking a bit of confidence, readers will not only be able to enjoy Mitchell’s intrepid adventures but also be introduced to a world of number tips and tricks to develop speed, accuracy, and self-assurance with numbers. And most of all, enjoyment with mathematics.

Gasp as our heroes overcome the most menacing forces of nature, horrific jungle monsters, and the descent of the highest waterfalls on Earth.

Wonder at the mathematical patterns Humdrum learns from the kind navigator, Smickett, and how he uses number tricks to gain acceptance in the Grog Room, where the grisly crew including Onion Breath and Claw Fist hang out.

And there are tricks to amaze friends and family. With just a bit of practice any reader will, like Humdrum, be able to solve calculations quicker than a calculator, such as:

* Tell at a glance if any number to 10,000 is a prime.
* Square 25, 35, 45 etc in a flash.
* Find the cube roots of numbers up to a million in seconds.

Descent Into Infinity is a gripping adventure with a bit of mathematics - just a bit - and a lot of cliff-hangers as our heroes face perilous perils and terrible terrors such as The Orbs of Doom, The Hitherum-Ditherum, The Terrible Tanglewood and The Vortex of Infinity. No-one survives The Vortex of Infinity.

Written to amuse readers with insightful questions and friendly jibes at teachers, it also includes confidence-building tips on number patterns written to help readers, no matter how capable, to raise speed, accuracy and enjoyment with numbers.

Descent into Infinity is infinitely amusing, infinitely enlightening and an infinitely good adventure.