Math Hacks 2: Stress Less + Do Better

Author Vanessa Vakharia is the founder and director of a Toronto math and science tutoring studio called The Math Guru. She believes that anyone can be successful at math provided that they have the right attitude and take ownership for their learning. Math Hacks 2 is divided into two main parts, the first of which consists of several techniques to boost confidence, motivation and productivity and to quell anxiety, and tips for preparing for and writing tests. This first section takes up 43 pages before the reader arrives at the actual section on math hacks. In fact, most of the information in the first part of the book can be applied to any subject, not just math.

The remainder of the book is devoted to coordinates, lines, length, angles, two and three-dimensional shapes, symmetry, transformations, perimeter, area, surface area, volume, mass and money. Various text boxes offer important reminders and additional tips that will come in handy. Students need not read the chapters in sequence; they can skip to the specific concept that gives them difficulty. Though online testimonials about the tutoring studio are very positive, receiving in-person tutoring is much different than reading about a concept in a book. Some of the hacks can be a bit confusing and time-consuming. A few of them, such as how to figure out the surface area of a rectangular prism, and how to translate and rotate objects, need not be so complicated.

Written in kids’ language, the text is sprinkled with words such as “fave” and “diff”, and acronyms such as OMG and BFF. Many words are written in all caps, not always to emphasize a point, but sometimes in an attempt to be cool and to appeal to kids. There are several concepts whose step-by-step instructions and examples are cluttered with far too much print, creating a busy and crowded page. One questions the likelihood of a student actually reading this book in order to better understand a math concept. Perhaps this book would be best suited to a parent, resource teacher or tutor who is trying to help a child with math homework or offering suggestions as to how to develop good study habits.

On the plus side, there are plenty of great tips in the first part of the book and many useful math hacks in the second part. Most of all, there is a great sense of positivity in this book, including the notions that math is fun and that all children are capable and can learn to enjoy math. This positivity is also evident in the encouraging messages such as, “The best way to memorize a formula is to write it down over and over. Write each formula down ten times a day for a full week, and I promise it WILL be in your head forever!” Illustrations consist of simple, cartoon drawings and diagrams that will appeal to kids.

A table of contents, an index and a related web site for additional math hacks are provided in Math Hacks 2: Stress Less + Do Better.