According to figures released by ACT Inc., many more U.S. high school students are taking courses in mathematics than was the case a decade ago. In fact, the portion of college-bound students taking calculus increased from 16 percent in 1987 to 27 percent in 2000. Let's face it, most students and adults who take calculus do so not for the fun of it, but rather to advance within a job or fulfill a degree requirement. The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to Calculus will take the sting out of this complex math by putting it's uses, functions and limitations in perspective of what is already familiar to readers-algebra. Once readers have brushed up on their algebra and trigonometry skills, they'll be eased into the fundamentals of calculus.
W. Michael Kelley taught high school mathematics for seven years before leaving to work at the University of Maryland College Park Education College. After serving as the Director of Teacher Preparation at the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence for nearly 10 years, he now works for Laureate Education, developing online coursework for colleges and universities.
His life goal is to make math hurt less.
