29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What I've been looking for...., May 8, 2005
This review is from: Arithmetic and Algebra Again: Leaving Math Anxiety Behind Forever (Paperback)
This is a very well-thought-out book. I've looked at many many math books, looking for one with good, clear explanations. This one is deceptive - at first glance it looks just like any other math book, but this is what I was looking for. For example, the explanation of why we invert and multiply when we divide fractions is clear and understandable - few other math books even bother to try to explain why or how this works, but this book does and does it well. Another wonderful thing about this book is that the authors are aware that words used in math can be confusing - they take the time to explain, for example, why we often use the word "of" when multiplying fractions (1/6 of 3/4) instead of saying "times" (1/6 times 3/4).
The explanations in this book are excellent (and that is what I was looking for) and they always show every step of a solution, so it is easy to follow along. They also use visual explanations, again making sure to show every step.
The focus in this book is on relating the math to practical life - this also really aids understanding.
There are lots of exercises to practice with - and answers are provided for all of them.
The best thing about this book is the "tone" of the authors. They write in an easy-to-understand, clear way. The book doesn't seem to have been written in "mathese" another language, but in normal English for normal people. It gives the feeling of being written by people who are caring and helpful and want the reader to understand - as opposed to most math textbooks that seem to be written more to impress other math educators than for real people who aren't used to math-style writing.
The book covers all the usual topics of arithmetic and goes up through elementary algebra.
Even though the intended market for this book is adults or college students who have already been through years of math, much of which they've forgotten, I recommend it also for homeschoolers. This inexpensive book can take the place of purchasing curriculum for years. It also can be used as a reference for finding good explanations and examples of specific topics - it has an excellent table of contents and index.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding for people who struggle with math, June 13, 2006
This review is from: Arithmetic and Algebra Again: Leaving Math Anxiety Behind Forever (Paperback)
I had to prepare for a test for certification in middle school math and was terrified. I hadn't studied algebra or statistics in over 20 years. I ordered several books online and got more at the public library, and this was the ONLY book written in a way that allowed for effective self teaching. The other reviewer said it best, the language they use to explain concepts is the key. I wanted a book that talked to me like I was 6 years old. It needed a bit more on geometry, other than that is was an excellent study guide. Great for Praxis preparation.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
For us math challenged peeps!, May 29, 2007
This review is from: Arithmetic and Algebra Again: Leaving Math Anxiety Behind Forever (Paperback)
I am back to school after how many years and was half panicking when I was told I would have not one but TWO math classes. This book is one of the texts. It is easy to follow and quite thorough. Out of the 6 books I need for these classes, so far I understand this one the best.
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