Math Maze creator adds book to his resume




Ralph Colao

Ralph Colao


By Michael Picarella
Acorn Staff Writer

A dream plus a goal minus self-doubt plus determination times perseverance equals the new Math Maze Puzzle book by Westlake Village resident Ralph Colao.


Colao tried for about a year to get mass exposure from his entertaining math activity and a publisher recently put two and two together.


Math Maze has been a popular feature in The Acorn for more than two years.


Some people who aren’t from the area but who happened to pick up copies of The Acorn, found Colao’s puzzles and have been getting their fix via e-mail ever since.


But now anyone—even people who don’t get The Acorn—can play Math Maze which is now available in a collection of 105 puzzles at your local bookstore or through online book dealers.


"This book could be used in schools," Colao said. He liked the idea of a Math Maze book, but didn’t get the idea until several fans asked him about it. Colao thought a collection of his puzzles would be a great idea because more people could see and use his math tool.


One Math Maze enthusiast told Colao that he sent copies of the puzzle from The Acorn to his 80-year-old grandmother in San Jose. But she couldn’t see the numbers. Her grandson had to make enlargements.


The book shows the puzzles in a larger format than they appear in newspapers so they’re easier to read, Colao said, and easier to work with.


"The response of the readers—ranging from dedicated parents to teachers and to people across a wide spectrum of age and educational level—has been overwhelmingly positive," Colao said.


So what’s all the fuss about the Math Maze Puzzle?


It uses repetition, a very important concept in learning arithmetic, and it combines a challenge with fun. Players increase their math skills—and it’s entertaining, too.


Kids won’t do well in math if they’re uninterested, Colao said, and Math Maze makes it fun. Kids and adults agree.


The puzzles are squares with grids of numbers. A unique path can be found by using math. For example, a number eight box at the bottom of the maze might be the starting point and a number six box at the top of the maze is the finishing point. Next to eight is the number five. Eight minus five is three and the number three box sits somewhere next to the number five box. That’s the first step toward reaching the finish line.


The challenge is to use addition, subtraction, division and multiplication to move across the grid to reach the finish box or in the above example’s case, the number six box.


False paths exist, according to Colao. It’s challenging, he said, and the repetition and constant pre-visualization of possible math solutions keeps players sharp.


Colao created Math Maze Puzzle about five years ago. It evolved from a math board game that didn’t seem challenging enough. Colao scored when he introduced his Math Maze to the public. And he was willing to work to promote it.


Colao contacted many publishers by phone and query letters. He had no bites early on.


"I didn’t get discouraged because I knew I had something good," Colao said. His fans kept Colao positive with words of encouragement and he kept promoting the concept with book companies until 1stBooks Library saw it.


His hard work paid off, Colao said.


Colao, a retired electrical engineer, has contributed to the design and development of several airborne and missile borne computer systems. He received his bachelor’s degree in electric engineering from the City University of New York.


And he obviously enjoys teaching people about the importance of numbers.


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