In this book on ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian mathematics, Rudman (physics, Technion Institute, Haifa, emeritus)explores the ways in which ancient mathematicians worked out mathematical solutions to practical problems, like building pyramids and ziggurats, or tracing the square root of two apparently just for fun. He begins by explaining the numbering systems of Egyptians, Babylonians and Greeks, including explaining the use of agricultural measurements and parts of the body as standards. Along the way, we learn that the Babylonians worked in base 60 and the Egyptians wrote fractions using the hieroglyph for the eye of Horus. Much of the book, though, consists of formulae that demonstrate the mathematical skill of these societies and how much Greeks like Pythagoras and Euclid were building on earlier work. The text is sprinkled with "fun questions" that can be used to enliven the teaching of geometry and algebra even at a high school level. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)