Customer Reviews

Practical Algebra: A Self-Teaching Guide, Second Edition

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I'd certainly award them to Mr. Selby and Dr. Slavin's book. I'm not finished with the text, but I'm learning so well that I KNOW I will have mastered the material. In fact, I just ordered the book which they recommend as a follow-up, "Geometry and Trigonometry for Calculus." They start out with baby steps -- literally simple addition and subtraction, and work up to fairly sophisticated algebraic expressions and problems. The student finds himself enjoying the material almost like it were a novel. Selby and Slavin give immediate answers for ALL the problems, so there's no frustration wondering if the problem is solved correctly. If the student misses a certain number of problems in a set, the authors recommend review of specific "frames" which cover the material. They treat the student with respect, making it clear that NO ONE (least of all someone who is motivated to study through their text) is a dummy. This is so much easier than trying to keep up with a math teacher who scribbles and then erases the material on a blackboard about as fast as he/she can write. I now know that self-paced learning is the way to go, at least for me. Many years ago, I failed calculus in college, and barely squeaked through college algebra and trigonometry. I fully intend to use this framework as a basis to repeat the course (even if via correspondence) and get this only blotch on an otherwise fine college career off my record. How sad that Mr. Selby has passed on, but how great it is that his books live still.

If you have been away from Algebra for a while or even if you have just started learning Algebra this book is for you. The authors have done a truly masterful job of explaining the basic concepts of Algebra. But more than that, the book has frequent tests and exercises which will help you to see if you are truly learning the stuff. Another great feature is that things are presented in a succinct and cogent manner. There is no patronizing prose or cute stories to bore you.

One thing I recommend strongly. Get well versed with chapters 2 through 4. These are the "nail and hammer" chapters in the book. Techniques like factoring, exponent manipulations, and simplification are explained. If you do not get these techniques nailed down you will be hounded with difficulties in later chapters. I re-read the chapters 3 times as well as worked the problems. I also recommend that as you go along begin solving pertinent problems from "REA'S Algebra & Trigonometry Problem Solver". This may take some time but your efforts will be well rewarded.

I highly recommend this text for anyone learning Algebra. But specially if you are like myself, just "doing" Algebra after a long hiatus, grab this book. A must have !

I recently had to get back into Math. I was not anxious since it had been about 10 years since I had to practice and test myself on Math. I asked my College Counselor (College of Marin) who recommended your book "Practical Algebra: A Self Teaching Guide". I was afraid!! But once I got into the book, from Page 1, I felt comfortable. I felt as if the instructor was there with me, supporting me and teaching me all at once. I felt completely at ease with the structure, the pace and the questions. Thank you so much for allowing my return to Math be so painless.

This book helped me re-learn my algebra skills after 9 years, for a college placement test. I passed!!! I strongly recommend this book as a valuable tool to study algebra.

This book is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I am getting ready to start college, and I wanted to major in theoretical physics but all I had ever taken was basic math through school. This book helped me learn more in one week than a high school teacher could in a month. If you want to learn algebra, and are good in arithmitic buy this book and see for yourself.

This book, together with Algebra Unplugged, has bolstered my confidence, as I return to school after many years, for my MBA. Not having taken a math class in 30 years, my skills were beyond rusty. Algebra Unplugged is a light-hearted look at algebra concepts and was a great start, but I needed a book that would give me sample problems to work on and this book fit the bill. I'm nearly done with it and feel just about ready to tackle the math challenges ahead of me. (But first, I need to re-learn more advanced material, like Trig, before I hit the Calculus for Managers class.)

I purchased this book to help me get through a college Algebra class. It was much more informative that the class textbook.
The author practically saved my life in this class. There are plenty of explanations of the whys, hows and rules of Algebra. There are plenty of examples and practices. This book is very well laid out with great order of the topics covered.
I will probably keep this book and pitch my $100 college textbook when the class is over.

Aside from the joking "mistake" on page 3, this book is a fantastic and well-written, concise, thorough explanation of Algebra, in Terms that do not fry your logic circuits.
I am not entirely sure if someone could Teach Themselves Algebra, completely, with this book, but it is a Wonderful Refresher Course. Personally, I had to set College aside for a few years, due to working all the time. When my schedule finally became stable and reasonable, I realized two years had disappeared. So, I used this Study Guide to get myself back up to speed. Sure, I had all of my old notes, tests, quizzes and whatnot, but this book relieved the stress of matching-up chapters to notes and deciphering scribbled notes taken at light-speed. I simply sat-down with this practical study guide for several evenings and weekends, before diving back into college courses.
This book helped jog my memory and get me back on track, quickly. It seems the Perfect choice for refreshing the Memory Chips, between High School and College--esp., for those who haven't had an Algebra course for several years.
My synopsis of this great study guide is:
This is a quick, Painless, way to Learn Algebra and Refresh your memory for college courses, or to use as a helpful study guide along with the College Texts and notes from class.
This book is especially good for people who spend most of their time working, or studying for on-the-job certifications, as well as college courses. I assume it would be great for High School Students, as well.

I am 46 years old and have not cracked open an Algebra textbook in close to thirty years. The reviews I read about this book helped me to decide to purchase it, since an upcoming Intermediate Algebra course is looming on the horizon.
I have only gone through the first three chapters but I am very pleased with what I have learned so far. The lessons are very methodical which makes retaining the information possible. I do wish there were more practice problems but overall this is one of the best Amazon purchases I've made to date (and I've purchased plenty).

For a book to be a good self teaching device it needs to:

1.) Be clearly written
2.) Provide copious and abundant examples/questions
3.) Leave nothing to assumption

This book is clearly written. Provides a minimal amount of examples and questions. And leaves much to be assumed.

Having read the book I can easily see why it is well rated as the format and style is quite approachable. To an extent this is a problem when combined with the shallowness of the examples and test questions in the book, as this can lead to a false confidence. There is very little in the way of converse examples, and the examples to be found are about as basic as they can get. So as you're reading this book you're constantly making assumptions and if your assumptions are wrong there are not enough examples to know any better.

I constantly found myself going online seeking clarity. And After finishing the book I did not feel confident in the subject and got another book. If you're looking for a good book on algebra pick up a Elementary Algebra with Applications by Wesner and Nustad; it covers the same range of material as this book, yet fills in all the holes.