Calculating gamesters

Press, 2 December 1978, Page 15

Calculating gamesters

The Kid’s Pocket Calculator Game Book By E. Schlossberg and J. Brock man. W. H. Allen. 189 pp. $7.95.

Columbus' Egg: Tricks, Games, Experiments. By Edi Lanners. Paddington Press. 192 pp. $6.95.

A century divides the contents of these two books, but the aim of both is the same. They seek to teach the rudiments of mathematics and science through games and puzzles which are easily produced in the home from materials already to hand. “The Kids' Pocket Calculator Game Book” does assume that every child has a pocket calculator. Perhaps, these days, they do. “Columbus’ Egg” assumes more modest materials — eggs, forks, corks, string, and cardboard. Much of its contents have been derived from nineteenth century French books of simple experiments and tricks, and the magnificent illustrations from the

originals have been reprinted. With its help would-be scientists (or parlour tricksters) can balance eggs on narrow glass bottle-tops, build waterwheels, float needles and candles, and even make a serviceable model airship from a soap bubble. The calculator puzzles are graded in degree of difficulty and many are competitive games for several players (each with a calculator). The games have titles such as “fast and mean." “rational maze” and “bank roll." Bv the end of the book players are competing in "equation marathons” and performing those metric conversions (such as fluid ounces to millilitres) which make strong adults quail. Both books offer a wealth of ideas for the holidays but, on balance, once the novelty of using a calculator has worn off, the mirrors, shadow*, sparks, and balancing feats of "Columbus’ Egg” are likely to have a more lasting appeal.