The author, a structural engineer and retired university professor, wrote this book to introduce young readers to the wonderful world of mathematics. This is the story of Eli, a frontier boy in the year 1868. The story begins when Eli’s grandparents take a wagon train over the Santa Fe Trail to the New Mexico Territory. The families of the wagon train develop the Friendly Valley community on the east side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The story includes details of the wagon train trip, construction of a log cabin by Eli’s grandparents, and the frontier marriage of Eli’s father. Eli and his 5 year old sister, Elsie, enter the story during the summer when Eli is 6 years old.
Eli encounters basic number problems relative to herding his father’s sheep. When Eli enters first grade at the end of the summer, he finds answers to these and other problems. The so-called word problems that Eli encounters are the type of math problems that many young people fear. However, developing an ability to solve word problems is the most important reason we study mathematics. These are the type of problems that are encountered in business, architecture, engineering, medicine, construction, and other professions. Only a very few career mathematicians study pure mathematics without worrying about a practical application. The reason the overwhelming majority of us study mathematics is to develop an ability to solve word problems related to a chosen profession.
In introducing basic math problems that have a practical application, relative historical topics are introduced such as land acquisitions that opened the southwestern US to settlers. Also the educational value of certain incidents such as shearing sheep, wheat as a staple, the bartering process, description of a yardstick, the practical use of pacing a distance, and the village Elder’s definition of the lunar seasons.
By introducing young readers to mathematical problems that deal with everyday situations, the author hopes to kindle their interest in the power and beauty of mathematics. As a former educator, the author believes the book could effectively be assigned as outside reading by elementary school teachers to provide material for classroom discussion or for written or oral book reports.
Thank you and Good Reading.
Ron McPherson, Author