The Handy Math Answer Book [Paperback]

Patricia Barnes-Svarney (Author), Thomas E. Svarney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2005

From modern-day challenges such as balancing a checkbook, following the stock market, buying a home, and figuring out credit card finance charges to appreciating historical developments like the use of algebra by Mesopotamian mathematicians, this engaging resource addresses more than 1,000 questions relating to mathematics. Providing a complete overview—beginning with the early history of Pythagoras, Archimedes, and how some of the first calendars were invented—this guide helps answer questions surrounding the basics and fundamentals of algebra, calculus, geometry, and trigonometry. Organized in 16 chapters that cluster similar topics in an easily accessible format, this reference provides clear and concise explanations to paradoxes, theories, fundamentals of geometry, and other branches of mathematics, plus the numbers we see daily in statistics, financial and market reports, weather forecasts, real estate evaluations, games, and measurements of all kinds.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Patricia Barnes-Svarney has been a nonfiction science and science fiction writer for more than 15 years. She has a master's degree in geography/geomorphology and has worked professionally as a geomorphologist and oceanographer. She has written or coauthored more than 300 articles for science magazines and journals. Thomas E. Svarney is a scientist, naturalist, and artist. They are the coauthors of numerous science books, including The Handy Geology Answer Book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 520 pages
• Publisher: Visible Ink Press (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578591716
• ISBN-13: 978-1578591718
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,049,992 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book that serves its purpose. A good recommendation for kids., April 3, 2009

By 

John Doe (Somewhere in New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Handy Math Answer Book (Paperback)

Prior to reading The Handy Math Answer Book, the authors made a mention of their backgrounds, and I thought it was interesting that neither of them possessed a mathematics degree. That has to give me a pause right there, but when I finished reading the book, I thought that The Handy Math Answer Book was a very good and competent read. Of course, the book was not exciting as I hoped it would be. It is neither flashy nor dull. It is neither pedantic nor terse. It is neither excessive nor threadbare. Simply put, The Handy Math Answer Book is straightforward in answering the questions and does well in addressing the many questions as possible. Although I am satisfied with the answers, obviously some of them require further investigation. I really don't know how the book can be improved in any way except for cases of updating the information as the newer editions come out. I like to consider The Handy Math Answer Book as a good starting point for any student and discourage anyone to think that the book is be all and end all because that's impossible to achieve in the field of mathematics. In the end, The Handy Math Answer Book makes a welcome addition to my library of mathematical books and invites anyone to peer into the journey of mathematics.