Customer Reviews

Mastering Technical Mathematics, 2nd edition

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I studied and learned most of this stuff years ago, and then proceeded to forget much of it as the years passed. But as a software developer, I have occasionally needed to refresh my understanding of some neglected area of mathematics... and this book has been invaluable for that. It might also be helpful as a supplementary text for students learning some area of math for the first time, since the explanations are often much more helpful and straightforward than anything I remember from my textbooks.

The explanations are clear and concise, with useful diagrams, examples, and problems (with fully-worked-out solutions in the back) to help test and verify your understanding. The authors don't waste a lot of time, but still manage to keep the topic interesting by appropriate use of real-world examples and clear explanations. A very good book...

I don't imagine that "Mastering Technical Mathematics" will wind up on the top of anyone's book list. But if you have an interest in math the book can expand your understanding of numbers from counting through geometry and trig on to the calculus. If you're looking for a book to get you through next weeks' test on logarithms I'd stick with a Schaum's Outline but if you really want to know what a logarithm is and how they are derived, how they are applied, and how they can make your life easier, well, all of that is found here.

It's not all easy going. Like all math, each part is built on an understanding of the previous part (precisely why I failed intermediate algebra!) Some of the concepts can be hard to understand, too. But as you work though each chapter and, especially if you work through the problems, you'll gain a deeper understanding of numbers and how they relate to nature.