The Mathematical Investigations of Dr. O and Arya
by Arya Ökten and Giray Ökten
Children’s Math Fiction
by Arya Ökten and Giray Ökten
Children’s Math Fiction
The Mathematical Investigations of Dr. O and Arya follows the two title characters as they solve various mathematical conundrums—ranging from secret codes, to operations, to prime numbers. Not only will readers enjoy the illustrations and interactions between Dr. O and Arya, they will also immensely enjoy the challenges presented in each chapter.
A playful approach to some core ideas of mathematics, this book will help lay the foundation for understanding algebra and probability. Dr. O and his young associate Arya explore and discover ideas in ciphers, triangular numbers, primes and composites, probability, and a variety of fascinating number patterns. For a parent and curious child, or for a curious child alone, these mathematical investigations will invite re-reading and further exploration.
Fairy out of Fairy
The Mathematical Investigations of Dr. O and Arya will make math fun. The illustrations are cute and reminiscent of some mangas. Vocabulary, math, and history all blend together in this book. The puzzles and activities are fun, and it’s easy to forget that you’re learning! Highly recommend especially if math isn’t your child’s favorite subject.
Praise for The Mathematical Investigations of Dr. O and Arya
The Mathematical Investigations of Dr. O and Arya is a very fun read, indeed! The exchange between Arya and Dr. O is engaging and authentic (knowing these two individuals, I can actually picture them having these conversations!) and the mathematical ideas progress in a way that is easy to understand, but they are also quite interesting and have applications across the broader landscape of mathematics. I particularly loved that the exchange that takes place between Arya and Dr. O includes mutual questioning. That is, Arya and Dr. O both ask questions and pose problems. This subtle yet pervasive reference that doing of mathematics includes asking questions and posing problems, as opposed to merely computing answers to exercises, is what kept me reading: I wanted to find out where their problem posing takes them! The mathematics content of Dr. O and Arya’s adventures includes cryptography, number theory, and probability, and uses history of mathematics to situate and contextualize the topics. I think this book would make a wonderful resource for upper elementary and middle school teachers who wish to frame topics such as ideas from number theory that promotes thinking about patterns or problems to think more deeply about applications of probability. Upper elementary and middle school students will enjoy this book–regardless of their ability or interest in mathematics–as it provides a healthy dose of fun, engagement, and curiosity-inducing mathematics, and which is masterfully scaffolded for all learners.
Dr. Kathleen M. Clark, Mathematics Education, Florida State University
The Mathematical Investigations of Dr. O and Arya is a perfect mixture of whimsy, mathematical reasoning, and curiosity for any child interested in going beyond the standard curriculum. Arya and Dr. O play boardgames, take flight, and go to the carnival, among other adventures all while exchanging secret messages, creating their own mathematical operators, juggling prime numbers, and even exploring famous unsolved problems in mathematics. This illustrated book is written with a child in mind and will make for an excellent enrichment text in the classroom or at home. The concepts are explained clearly and plainly with an abundance of fully worked out examples as well as challenge problems with full solutions provided, making it suitable both for self-study (grades 5 and above) or for guided instruction (grades 2 and above). I highly recommend this book both as a mathematician and a parent.
Dr. Manan Shah is a mathematician writing at mathmisery.com/wp
The Mathematical Investigations of Dr. O and Arya, is a fun and engaging exploration of some basic mathematical concepts aimed at bright, curious youngsters. The book is delightfully written and is attractively illustrated with pertinent cartoons. It unfolds as a dialogue between a teacher, the wise Dr. O, and Arya, his alert and lively pupil. It locks into puzzles, codes, patterns, and themes that will have a compelling hold on young minds. A nice touch is that this beautiful book is the collaborative effort a father-daughter team.
Dr. Pat Lambert, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Here’s a book of fun exercises and challenges which will pique your child’s interest in multiple mathematical topics! I know your child will find them interesting and intriguing with just the right level of challenge. This book is practical and useful guide, perfect for personal self study or for teachers who want to provide extra practice for students to learn at high levels. The appealing and attention-grabbing cartoons of Dr. O and Arya will delight every reader, young or old.
Dr. Rebecca L Pierce, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Center for Gifted Studies & Talent Development, Ball State University
What a fun way to learn! Having witnessed firsthand how much children can gain from some of the activities presented herein, I am not at all surprised that the Oktens have written such a delightful and insightful book. This is a wonderful resource for the parent of a mathematically curious “Big Thinker”. And I whole-heartedly recommend it.
John Field, Special Services Coordinator, LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library, Tallahassee, FL
About the Authors
Giray Ökten
In 2007, Giray taught a math workshop to a group of third, fourth, and fifth graders in Tallahassee, Florida. His audience included his daughter, Arya, and some of her friends. Arya had inherited his love of math and as a result, Giray was always on the lookout for interesting math books to share with her. Unfortunately, although he searched high and low, he was left unsatisfied with the available options. Giray believed that young kids could be taught ‘advanced’ mathematical topics and that they would enjoy them– so long as they were presented in the right way. He decided to take matters into his own hands and started teaching workshops in order to introduce Arya, as well as other kids, to interesting mathematics in fun ways.
After experiencing success with his initial workshop in 2007, Giray decided to continue teaching. In the meantime, Arya grew up. After years of watching her father lecture, she became interested in teaching as well. The two of them decided to teach the next workshop together, which was a class on Caesar ciphers (or more simply, secret codes). Making sure that the kids enjoyed the material and had fun during the talk was of critical importance to Giray and Arya. That’s when Arya came up with the idea that they should introduce the topic by acting like secret agents, thus incorporating an element of entertainment. The two of them wrote a script, dressed in costume (a pair of dark sunglasses) and taught the class through a series of questions and answers between the two of them. The kids loved the workshop. After quite a few of these co-taught lectures, they decided to write a math book that would be educational while still incorporating the fun and games they developed in the classroom.
Many thanks to Tony Brown, Betsey Brown, and Ai-Ying Choong from Cornerstone Learning Community who hosted Giray’s first workshop in 2007, as well as many others afterwards. Thanks to Chen-Hui Chang for turning Arya’s sketches into professional cartoons. Thanks to the publishing team from Tumblehome, Rebecca Raibley Bryden, Yu-Yi Ling, and in particular, Barnas Monteith and Penny Noyce who gave a home to the investigations of Dr. O and Arya. Finally, and most importantly, thanks to all the children who participated in our workshops.
Arya Ökten
Arya Ökten is a PhD student in immunobiology at Yale University, and Dr. O’s original student. Arya likes to spend her free time reading books and enjoying good chocolate. Giray Ökten is a professor of mathematics at Florida State University. When he isn’t at the blackboard, he likes to spend his time listening to classical music and watching film noir movies. Arya and Giray wrote this book over several years based on math workshops they co-taught to students from elementary and middle schools in Tallahassee.
