Pre-Calculus Demystified [Paperback]

Rhonda Huettenmueller (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071439277 | ISBN-13: 978-0071439275 | Publication Date: January 14, 2005 | Edition: 1

Packed with practical examples, graphs, and Q&As, this complete self-teaching guide from the best-selling author of Algebra Demystified covers all the essential topics, including: absolute value, nonlinear inequalities, functions and their graphs, inverses, proportion and ratio, and much more.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

HERE'S AN ABSOLUTE VALUE FOR ANYONE WISHING TO MASTER PRE-CALCULUS!

Calculus is a cinch with pre-calculus under your belt -- and calculus is a must for any science, math, or computer science major. Pre-calculus by itself deepens your understanding of mathematics and improves your performance on standardized pre-college and college tests. Now anyone can master pre-calculus -- without formal training, unlimited time, or a genius IQ. In Pre-Calculus Demystified, best-selling author and teacher Rhonda Huettenmueller breaks pre-calculus down into manageable bites with practical examples, solutions, graphs, practice questions, and a fresh approach that removes the mystery from pre-calc concepts.

Unlike most books on pre-calculus, general concepts are presented first -- and the details follow. In order to make the process as clear and simple as possible, long computations are presented in a logical, layered progression with just one execution per step.

This entertaining self-teaching course makes it fun and easy to learn precalculus fast. Get ready to:

• Perform better on placement exams
• Avoid confusion with detailed examples and solutions that help you every step of the way
• Conquer such topics as absolute value, nonlinear inequalities, inverses, trigonometric functions, and conic sections.
• Get comfortable with functions, graphs of functions, logarithms, exponents, and more
• Master a subject that will help you with calculus, geometry, trigonometry, physics, chemistry, computing, and engineering
• Reinforce learning and pinpoint weaknesses with questions at the end of every chapter, and a final exam at the end of the book

Pre-Calculus Demystified is the perfect shortcut to learning or brushing up on this important subject.

About the Author

Rhonda Huettenmueller is the author of the best-selling book in the Demystified series, Algebra Demystified. Popular with students for her ability to make higher math understandable and even enjoyable, she incorporates many of her teaching techniques in this book. Ms. Huettenmueller has taught mathematics at the college level for almost 15 years. She received her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of North Texas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 468 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 1 edition (January 14, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071439277
• ISBN-13: 978-0071439275
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,534 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rhonda Huettenmueller has taught mathematics at the college level for over 10 years. Popular with students for her ability to make higher math understandable and even enjoyable, she incorporates many of her teaching techniques in this book. She received her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of North Texas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

119 of 121 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Book!, April 2, 2005

By 

R. Orchanian "RPO" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pre-Calculus Demystified (Paperback)

I am a newly certified teacher of secondary Mathematics (grades 7-12) in New York State. I am in the processes of reviewing Pre-Calculus.

So I see this book through two lenses.

1.) As a student: It is a dramatic relief to have each and every answer correct. I wouldn't underestimate the comfort of knowing what you are reading is 99.99% to 100% correct. Having used Schaum's, which can be peppered with errors, this is a welcome relief.

2.) As a teacher: Every explanation is well written and crystal clear. We are brought from the simple to the complex. (Of course, I've had to read some parts multiple times to 'get it.') Ms. Huettenmueller has the extremely rare combination of brilliant communication skills, aka pedagogy, along with mastery of content.

This brings the reader to the conclusion that the author (and the publisher) really cares that you learn this 'stuff.' A sense of a
pursuit of exellence comes through the pages.

I am sure Ms. Huettenmueller is a GIFTED teacher!

As a new teacher, this is someone I'd love to emulate.

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars *Superb* Self-Teaching Instrument, April 16, 2006

By 

Thomas B. Putney "mathguru" (West Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pre-Calculus Demystified (Paperback)

I applaud Rhonda Huettenmueller and whole heartedly agree with the R. Orchanian review (the New York teacher). The very best available that absolutely takes the mystery out of this area of mathematics. The sequence of the chapters is superb, clear, concise and very, very accurate. It includes process steps that are left out of many *so called* self-teaching guides which leaves many students scratching their head. Just quite simply the very best book written on the subjct, hands down. I hope Ms. Huettenmueller doesn't stop here.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last. At long last, November 24, 2007

By 

Roger Snowden (Omaha, NE) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pre-Calculus Demystified (Paperback)

I am one of those pathetic cases who should have been a math major, but could not stay awake during the freshman pre-calc lectures conducted by bored and boring grad students. Now, nearly 40 years later I am determined to self-educate my way through calculus.

At first I took a crack at the Wiley "Precalculus A Self Teaching Guide". Holy cripes, what a disaster! Unnerving to find such an improbable number of errors, especially for student picking up after decades of non-study.

Then, I grabbed Rhonda Huettenmeuller's fine work, and am doing the practice at the end of chapter four. I actually remembered some of my advanced algebra and managed to work my way through the problems.

Well written and clear, she provides enough dimensions on problems to give you insight, then gives you room enough to have to think a bit. The answers are all provided, and are *correct*. Well, at least we agree, so that is certainly a good sign.

I especially appreciate how she teaches this from the perspective of tackling calculus as the next step, pointing out issues that particularly apply, and how, to more advanced mathematics.

Now, if we can just get her to write more books...