Customer Reviews

Arco Math for Smart Test-Takers (Arco Academic Test Preparation)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book contains multitudinous mistakes, and if an unsuspeting test-taker is not careful, he is sure to learn frequent fatal falsehoods. Great examples are (x²+y²) = x²+2xy+y², and (x-y)² = x²-y² (p. 178). Furthermore, 93, 87, 57, and 51 are not prime, as page 33 asserts. Finally, the book asserts that if x = -1, then x^4 -x^3 -x^2 - x - 1 = 2. This is not the case; it equals 1. This books has caused must grief, bewilderment, and confusion. It is fortunate that it was designed for smart test takers, for dumb test-takers will need all their wit to overcome its errors. Unfortunately, no wit will be left for the test.

This book is terrible. In addition to the many errors it is far too simplistic. I will be returning this book. Arco should be ashamed. I wish I had seen Eric's review before i bought this book.

I haven't read this book but I am familiar with their high school prep book for catholic students. There are at least 100 incorrect answers in the book. They even give an incorrect formula for the area of a circle. If a student really uses this book they will miss every math question that involves circles! I would have put this review under the title of that book but the new edition is not out yet, and its not taking reviews. Get any book but these!

I have to take a math test for my certification for Education. It has been several years since I was in high school. This book is a great refresher for me and is helping me to prepare for the test that I must take soon.

The scenario is almost like a fictitious evil plot--a math book with wrong answers! I picked this up for my sons who are preparing for the SAT. I have plenty of other resources, but I find it useful to get various perspectives and get a variety of problems to work through. I was reading through and working some of the problems myself seeking good examples to demonstrate the concepts. I repeatedly found egregious errors in the solved examples--not a simple typo, but wrong values carried throughout the solution! To top it off, I found misspellings. Those are bad enough, but could almost be forgiven, but blatant math errors?!
Don't even take this book if someone offers it for free; it's negative training!

This book is really great, specially for the SAT, PSAT and ACT tests. After reading this book I got an average of 96% of correct answers in those 3 tests. It will take you from the basics of algebra to the most advanced part of it that you really should know. A MUST for math test takers. Really great!