What do you think?
Rate this book
Pythagoras Math Adventure
Pythagoras and the Ratios: A Math Adventure
Julie Ellis and Phyllis Hornung Peacock team up once again to explore Pythagorean ratios in this humorous sequel to WHAT'S YOUR ANGLE, PYTHAGORAS?
Pythagoras and his cousins want to win a music contest, but first they must figure out how to play their instruments in tune, something that's never been done before.
While trying to fix the problem, Pythagoras makes an important discovery--notes that sound pleasant together have a certain mathematical relationship. When Pythagoras applies this ratio to his cousins' pipes and lyres, the result is music to the ears.
Pythagoras and his cousins want to win a music contest, but first they must figure out how to play their instruments in tune, something that's never been done before.
While trying to fix the problem, Pythagoras makes an important discovery--notes that sound pleasant together have a certain mathematical relationship. When Pythagoras applies this ratio to his cousins' pipes and lyres, the result is music to the ears.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
2 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Julie Ellis
52 books4 followersJulie Ellis is the author of many books for children, including What's Your Angle, Pythagoras?, which she wrote as a way to show her daughter the uses of the Pythagorean Theorem. She lives in New Zealand.
Librarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 27, 2018
Young readers and listeners most likely will be unfamiliar with Pythagoras and the well-known formula that bears his name, but this is a nice introduction to when he was a curious child whose imagination and creativity often got away at the expense of completing his chores. Since very little we know about Pythagoras is any more than myth, this story is unlikely to be true, though still a fun read to show students the link between mathematics and music.
May 12, 2012
Pythagoras and the Ratios by Julie Ellis carries young mathematicians and musicians back to Ancient Greece where an ever-curious Pythagoras enjoys solving problems so much that he often forgets to finish his chores. Young Pythagoras helps his cousin Octavius tune his new pipes by comparing them to his own and realizing that because they are twice as wide, they also need to be twice as long. Using the same ratios, he ties rocks of varying weight to the lyres of Reyna and Amara so that all of the cousins can play their instruments together for the first time in history.
The book is one of 19 in the Charlesbridge Math Adventures Series and does an excellent job of explaining the mathematical and musical principles of string and woodwind instruments. Ellis includes an historical note and some additional math and music explanations at the end to help the reader separate fact from fiction and make an “instrument” using six identical glasses containing various levels of water. Phyllis Hornung Peacock’s warm cartoon illustrations, created in acrylic and water color pencil on cold-press watercolor paper, delightfully depict the general landscape and dress of Ancient Greece.
Although the story and dialogue are entirely fictitious, the introduction of Pythagoras as a mathematician is sound. The in-depth explanation of ratios, including diagrams and charts that correspond directly with the story, crystallize the concepts simply for students in grades 3-6. Issues of responsibility and working cooperatively are nicely interwoven into the story, which ends on a humorous note. Ellis strikes a nice balance of fun and education in this charming picture book.
Laurie A. Gray
Reprinted from the Christian Library Journal (Vol. XIV, No. 4, August 2010); used with permission.
The book is one of 19 in the Charlesbridge Math Adventures Series and does an excellent job of explaining the mathematical and musical principles of string and woodwind instruments. Ellis includes an historical note and some additional math and music explanations at the end to help the reader separate fact from fiction and make an “instrument” using six identical glasses containing various levels of water. Phyllis Hornung Peacock’s warm cartoon illustrations, created in acrylic and water color pencil on cold-press watercolor paper, delightfully depict the general landscape and dress of Ancient Greece.
Although the story and dialogue are entirely fictitious, the introduction of Pythagoras as a mathematician is sound. The in-depth explanation of ratios, including diagrams and charts that correspond directly with the story, crystallize the concepts simply for students in grades 3-6. Issues of responsibility and working cooperatively are nicely interwoven into the story, which ends on a humorous note. Ellis strikes a nice balance of fun and education in this charming picture book.
Laurie A. Gray
Reprinted from the Christian Library Journal (Vol. XIV, No. 4, August 2010); used with permission.
March 10, 2010
Pythagoras is a curious boy who forgets to do his chores because he is too busy solving math problems. His latest puzzle is that of his cousins' musical instruments. Using his mathematical logic, Pythagoras figures out how to fix the pipes and lyres' out-of-tune sounds, just in time for the big town concert. Although this book is not completely historically accurate, it does a good job at explaining the mathematical ratios that Pythagoras came up with. I think that kids would really be able to understand the ratio concept because the story line makes it more memorable and concrete. Sometimes the writing seemed a little bit forced and too "punny", but I think that kids would enjoy it as it helps solidify this mathematical concept in their mind. I especially think that non-math lovers (like myself) would appreciate this book for making math more applicable and real.
March 3, 2013
Best for kids ages 8 and up
Early Literacy Skills: Print Motivation, Vocabulary
From cover:
Pythagoras's cousin Octavius wants to win the music contest. The only problem is that his pipes are out of tune. Pythagoras compare the faulty pipes to his own perfect set. Together the cousins find a relationship between the longest and shortest of Pythagoras's pipes, which gives them an idea for how to fix Octavius's set. The answer's not so easy when cousins Reyna and Amara ask Pythagoras to fix their lyres so that they can join in the contest, too. Will Pythagoras tune in to the solution in time?
Great illustrations accompany this story about ratios.
Early Literacy Skills: Print Motivation, Vocabulary
From cover:
Pythagoras's cousin Octavius wants to win the music contest. The only problem is that his pipes are out of tune. Pythagoras compare the faulty pipes to his own perfect set. Together the cousins find a relationship between the longest and shortest of Pythagoras's pipes, which gives them an idea for how to fix Octavius's set. The answer's not so easy when cousins Reyna and Amara ask Pythagoras to fix their lyres so that they can join in the contest, too. Will Pythagoras tune in to the solution in time?
Great illustrations accompany this story about ratios.
September 11, 2011
Copyright: 2010
Genre: realistic fiction
Thoughts: The illustrations looked promising, but the story and the math didn't quite go together. It was like the math came first and the story came second. The best thing about it was the historical note in the back about what Pythagoras really did in relation to musical tuning.
Genre: realistic fiction
Thoughts: The illustrations looked promising, but the story and the math didn't quite go together. It was like the math came first and the story came second. The best thing about it was the historical note in the back about what Pythagoras really did in relation to musical tuning.
June 11, 2013
Cute book about ratios and the connection between math and music. Shows simplifying fractions using greatest common factor. Could be used around the time Social Studies is studying Ancient Greece.
6th Grade Common Core Standards:
Ratios and Proportional Relationships
6.RP.1
6.RP.3.d
The Number System
6.NS.4
*Available at Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Libraries*
6th Grade Common Core Standards:
Ratios and Proportional Relationships
6.RP.1
6.RP.3.d
The Number System
6.NS.4
*Available at Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Libraries*
October 10, 2012
Grade/interest level: Upper Elementary/Middle School
Reading level: AD680L
Genre: Poetry
Main Characters: Pythagoras, Octavious, Reyna, and Amara
Setting: Ancient Greece
POV: Pythatgoras
Reading level: AD680L
Genre: Poetry
Main Characters: Pythagoras, Octavious, Reyna, and Amara
Setting: Ancient Greece
POV: Pythatgoras
August 29, 2013
nicely done for kids.
Read
February 3, 2017good
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews