Algebra, the Easy Way

by Douglas Downing

It's an algebra text in the form of a fantasy novel, with the story's characters solving problems by using algebra. Readers discover the hows and whys of equations, negative numbers, exponents, roots and real numbers, algebraic expressions, functions, graphs, quadratic equations, polynomials, permutations and combinations, matrices and determinants, mathematical induction, and imaginary numbers. 100+ drawings & diagrams.

Genres: Mathematics, Nonfiction, Science, Education

334 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Douglas Downing is Professor Emeritus of Economics at Seattle Pacific University, where he taught from 1983 to 2018. He holds a BS and a PhD in economics from Yale University. At SPU, he taught economics, quantitative methods, astronomy, and globalization. Dr. Downing also served in various leadership roles and authored 15 books, including a trilogy of math adventure novels. His 2015 book, Freedom, Opportunity, and Security, explores the relationship between economic policy and the political system.

Reviews

[David Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful way to learn algebra. The book reads like a fairy tale as a group of people in a distant land learn algebra along with you. The author also has a trigonometry book in the same series and he uses the same characters. I have yet to tackle that book, however.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Algebra Books Every summer I borrow books from libraries near me to see if they would be good for us with the girls for school in the fall. This book is always brought home and I do enjoy Algebra. It is fairly well written and easy to understand. 

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to learn algebra from. It's taught through a fairytale type of story that seems silly at first but you end up learning without much effort. I used this book in 1989 and years later ordered it for my kids lol

[Deb Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

LIES! Nothing is easy.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book made for people who hate math and need to learn it quickly. I only wish they made math books this good every day.