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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining and Helpful, if Condescending, January 1, 2002
This review is from: SAT Math Mania (Kaplan SAT Math Mania) (Paperback)
As a high school student who works hard for high Bs and low As in a non-honors math class, I figured I could use some extra help preparing for the SAT I math. This book consists of 100 'math concepts,' starting with basics like the definitions of integers and nonintegers (#1), the definitions of rational vs. irrational numbers (#2), and how to add and subract signed numbers (#3), and ended with the geometry of solid figures (#98-100). Categories covered include "Ratios, Proportions, and Rates", "Powers and Roots", "Algebraic Expressions", "Factoring Algebraic Expressions", and "Coordinate Geometry", among many others. Each page has one 'concept' explained in very basic terms and then goes on to relate it to pop culture, concluding with simple practice problems. Most of the little pop culture blurbs were interesting, although some of them (especially at the beginning) were rather stretched and this book, like other Kaplan books, tends to talk down to readers. Topics of the blurbs include actors on NYPD Blue, Donald Trump, the price of gas, Sony and Cher (more than once!), and Mike the Headless Chicken. The explanations of the concepts were concise and clear, and I understood them immediately. Although I did not have a lot of time to review with this book before I took the PSAT, it still helped me. I had a problem which required knowledge of how to find the area of a sector (in a circle), and I remembered enough of the concept from reading this book that I was able to correctly solve the problem. My math score could have been better (63 PSAT and 620 SAT I, although I didn't study much using this book for the SAT I), but I know it would have been worse without the aid of this book. Great for brushing up on all those geometry rules and basic algebra. Make sure to use some real practice problems as well, though, because the problems in this book are not real problems that in any way resemble the SAT. (I recommend "10 Real SATs").
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book for mathematically challenged, June 20, 2004
This review is from: SAT Math Mania (Kaplan SAT Math Mania) (Paperback)
Being more verbally inclined, I knew I would need some serious help boosting my pitiful math SAT score. I previously scored 45 (450) on my PSAT, and I knew that the colleges I'm looking at wouldn't even give me a second glance with that score. I had tried everything (tutors, SAT practice books, flashcards), the whole nine yards. Nothing could keep me interested! Luckily (a week before my June SAT date!) I found this book. It may sound far-fetched, but having pop culture and words explain these math concepts to me actually caused some of the problems to become ingrained in my memory. Now, with only a week to study, I can't say I did superb on my SAT score (580). However, this book isn't solely limited to JUST the SAT. Two weeks later (with more studying), I took the ACT and, although I haven't received my scores, I know I did considerably better than my previous ACT test. The other reviewer is right. You definitely will need more practice than this book, and these questions aren't set up exactly the way the SAT is. (After all, ETS isn't going to ask you about 30-60-90 triangles and lounge singing). However, I think it's a great start for learning the foundation, and if you've had basic math classes (HS algebra), the concepts will come back to you after a while.
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