The Math Kids: The Triangle Secret
The Math Kids: The Triangle Secret
Special Agent Carlson arrived at the restaurant just as Jordan’s mom pulled up. The kids climbed out of the car and rushed over to their FBI friend. As usual, Carlson was dressed in a dark suit with a neatly pressed white shirt. The only thing that wasn’t usual was the edge of a plaster cast peeking out from under his shirt.
“Can we sign it?” asked Jordon.
Carlson laughed. “Maybe after dinner,” he said.
“We’re sure glad you’re safe, Agent Carlson,” Stephanie said. “When did you get back?”
“Just a few hours ago,” he replied. “I caught a ride on a military transport out of Germany. Not the most comfortable of planes, but it got me here.”
They entered the restaurant and were escorted to a table. The waitress took their drink orders and left them to look over the menu.
“Does it hurt much?” asked Catherine, pointing at Carlon’s arm.
“Not too much. I can’t say that for the day it happened though. It hurt quite a bit then.”
“How did you break it?” Jordan asked.
“Let’s just say a chair and I had a difference of opinion.”
“And the chair won?”
“Oh I wouldn’t say that.” the agent said. “My arm will be fine in a couple of months, but that chair isn’t good for anything but firewood now, so I think I won the battle.”
The kids laughed and begged him for more details. They were quickly engrossed in the story of real-life espionage and intrigue. Stephanie tugged at her ponytail as Carlson explained how he had woken up in the car trunk.
“I would have been terrified,” she said. (P. 85)
Grade 5 has finally improved. The Math Kids, Stephanie, Jordan, Justin and Catherine, were back in the same classroom, and their teacher, who learned the importance of math, has formed math groups, putting the four kids back together. They are ready to tackle any math problems that come their way. And it isn’t very long before a new problem presents itself. This problem, however, could put the Math Kids in danger as they try to help the FBI and their friend Special Agent Carlson .
FBI Special Agent Carlson is off to the great Pyramids in Egypt to investigate the disappearance of billionaire Willard Howell and the clues that were left in his will to be solved. The person solving the clues will receive all the money. If the riddle is not solved, the sum of the money will go to Willard Howell’s lawyer. Special Agent Carlson is kidnapped, but, because he still has his mobile phone, he texts a message to a senior agent of the FBI but accidentally sends it to Jordan. The Math Kids read it and begin to plan how to help their friend, Carlson.
First, the kids contact the FBI with the text message and are rewarded with a meeting and a complete list of all the facts that the FBI has about the case. Meanwhile, Carlson isn’t completely stymied by the fact that he is tied to a chair in a place he doesn’t recognize. He manages to escape, though he gets injured by his efforts. He goes directly to the US Embassy. From there, he contacts the FBI and heads home with a broken arm.
Once the kids know that Carlson is safe, they begin working on the puzzle that talks about a great triangle, and they decide that Carlson was looking in the wrong direction. The puzzle leads them to a unique triangle called Pascal’s triangle. This is an amazing triangle that is more to do with patterns than geometry. It can lead to some fun and powerful math as Catherine’s dad, a math teacher, helps them discover. Perhaps, this amazing triangle can help them find the answer to the riddle of Howell’s will.
Author David Cole may not call himself a mathematician but his knowledge of math and his teaching skills lead to amazing stories that are both entertaining and teachable. While the recommended age is 10 to 12 years, this series will be interesting to all ages, and the information included will pique everyone’s interest. The Math Kids: The Triangle Secret is exceptional, like all the others of the series, and the Appendix is full of really cool information. Each book can be read on its own, but following the series from the first book helps the reader develop a relationship with the characters which makes the stories more meaningful. I am certainly looking forward to the next novel of this series.
Elaine Fuhr, a retired elementary and middle school teacher, lives in Alberta.