The Round Table

Known as the human computer, Shakuntala Devi, once said, “Without mathematics, there is nothing you can do. Everything around you is mathematics. Everything around you is numbers.” I don’t agree with everything Devi said, but I think there are some important ideas one can gain from her perspective on mathematics.  The main idea I can agree on is the importance of a basic understanding of mathematics for children to be able to one day contribute to society. In close proximity to the importance of reading, mathematics can be very complicated for people of all ages, but there are supports that can help with understanding mathematical terminology. One type of assistance is through books such as the book called, “Sir Cumference and the Round Table” written by Cindy Neuschwander and Wayne Geeham.

         The book takes children back in time to Camelot when King Arthur ruled. King Arthur had a problem in that everyone at his table had to shout to be heard which caused their throats to hurt. One of the King Arthur’s men, Sir Cumference, designed a new table with the help of his wife, that would solve the shouting. The next day after the new square-shaped table was put to use, another problem arose. This time it was people whispering at each corner of the table when others were talking. After more planning with his wife, Sir Cumference designed a table in the shape of a parallelogram. This table also had problems because one of the corners was sticking King Arthur in the stomach. This made King Arthur unhappy and he asked Sir Cumference to design a different table.

          In his efforts to please the king, Sir Cumference consulted the carpenter and they thought of a triangle table. In an effort to try and salvage the parallelogram- shaped table, they measured the length and width of the table, but it was too small to make a big enough triangular-shaped table out of it. After those plans failed, Sir Cumference designed another table that was in the shape of an octagon. The octagon-shaped table was made, but there were too many big egos at the table and not enough sides. King Arthur then suggested a table in the shape of an egg and ordered it to be made. The oval-shaped table was a great idea until everyone bumped into each other which sent Sir Cumference back to the drawing board. Stumped, Sir Cumference went for a ride with his family where they observed a fallen tree. It was there that the idea was born for a round, circular table which was a big sensation in the castle. All the problems were solved throughout the kingdom once all those at the table could voice their ideas in an efficient way because “everyone had an equal position around the table.”

          

          The authors do a great job of engaging the reader thanks to the outstanding storytelling and beautiful pictures. Throughout reading the book I was thoroughly engaged and enjoyed the connection that the authors made to the math term of circumference as well as others, such as diameter and radius. This book would certainly fit under the math genre because of its math background and the terminology used in the book. Along with this book is many activities for students to complete that can connect math and literature such as identifying shapes and a board game. Possibilities are endless in today’s world with the internet and some imagination. Let us not forget the importance that math plays in our society and Albert Einstein may have said it best when he said, “Pure mathematics, is in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.”