An ellipse looks like a flattened circle, although a circle is actually a special kind of ellipse. There are long ellipses, thin ones, short ones, and fat ones.

With a flourish, Mannis Charosh introduces the ellipse to young mathematicians. He explores the relationship between families of ellipses through a series of easy and entertaining experiments that can be done by young readers with tacks, string, and other readily available materials. With an ordinary flashlight the reader will be able to demonstrate that the ellipse belongs to a larger family of curves which includes the circle, the parabola, the hyperbola, and the straight line. Anyone can watch the circular rim of an ordinary drinking glass appear to become elliptical as he drinks from it.

The ellipse, which is the shape of an astronomical orbit, can often be seen both in nature and in man-made objects. This book will help the reader discover that there are ellipses all around him.

Leonard Kessler's colorful, amusing illustrations add another dimension to a mathematical excursion young readers will enjoy.

From the dust jacket