Customer Reviews

The A to Z of Mathematics: A Basic Guide

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I am constantly telling my computer science students that it is impossible to remember everything, so your only choice is to remember a few key elements and where to look for the rest. The same applies to mathematics, where you are only as good as the quality of your references and your ability to take advantage of them. Of course the quality of the first has a great deal to do with your success in the latter.
This book is somewhere between a dictionary and an encyclopedia and is easy to use. Mathematical topics are listed in alphabetical order, with short explanations and examples of each topic. The length of the explanations is longer than that in a dictionary and shorter than that found in an encyclopedia. Additional related terms for reference are at the end of each segment. Some terms are not directly defined, the entry is simply a list of related terms to consult.
The explanations of the terms and phrases are easy to read and the explanations are as thorough as possible in a reference work of this type. There are few wasted words and no extraneous equations, which is also an excellent strategy. The purpose of the book is to provide primers or refreshers on the topics, and the author succeeds in doing a good job.
This is a solid and useful reference work and deserves a place in all academic libraries.

Thomas Sidebotham's book is a valuable contribution to successful mathematical understanding and will appeal to a wide audience. It is perfect for any student requiring a firm grounding in mathematics; parents struggling to support a son or daughter; teachers who want to give their students clear definitions and simple, well structured examples or for those of us who are faced with mathematical tasks when our knowledge has become rather rusty.

The author's easy to follow format provides straightforward definitions combined with simple explanations of mathematical concepts and processes. The examples clearly demonstrate the steps for successful learning and ensure it is a memorable, enjoyable and sometimes an amusing experience.

This book is the perfect companion for anyone studying mathematics and will be a treasured resource at home or in school.

Its reasonable,it is complete and it is easy to use and understand. it can be for a 4th grader or a college student in a math class. What an addition to a family library. Don't just shelve it, put it on the study table.