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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Algebra
From the author of the highly successful The Complete Idiot's Guide to Calculus comes the perfect book for high school and college students. Following a standard algebra curriculum, it will teach students the basics so that they can make sense of their textbooks and get through algebra class with flying colors.
336 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 2004
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76 people want to read
About the author
W. Michael Kelley
32 books12 followersThe author has written a bunch of books about math (like The Complete Idiot's Guide to Precalculus, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Calculus (Second Edition), and The Humongous Book of Calculus Problems).
His website, www.calculus-help.com, hosts over a thousand unique visitors a day, even though it features an unflattering animated graphic of him dancing at his wedding.
(from the back of one of his books)
His website, www.calculus-help.com, hosts over a thousand unique visitors a day, even though it features an unflattering animated graphic of him dancing at his wedding.
(from the back of one of his books)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 18, 2014
When I was 11 years old I went to high school and started Algebra. A couple of weeks after the beginning of the school term I was sick, and missed about 3 days' classes, and must have missed something vital, because I never managed to catch up. In maths exams I did well in geometry, was mediocre in arthmetic and trigonometry (mainly because of careless mistakes) but very poor in algebra. So when I saw this book in the library, I thought it might be an opportunity to see what I had missed.
I found the first few chapters interesting and informative. I was amazed at how what I had learned about vulgar fractions at school came back to me, and made more sense than it ever had at school. Even the beginning of algebra made much more sense. Perhaps it was because more than 30 years of using computers had taught me the uses of variables, though with computers one usually assigns values to variables rather than trying to work out the value of variables in equations. Things I had learnt at school as arbitrary rules suddenly began to make sense. Perhaps they made too much sense, because I found sometimes I could not follow the reasoning in the book, but following my own reasoning was able to solve simple (very simple) equations in my head.
I began to think that algebra could make sense after all.
So I read on, and then came a section where there were a lot of arbitrary unexplained rules that would need to be memorised if I were to make any more progress. Nevertheless, I kept the book in the bathroom and read snatches of it in the bath. Some bits made sense, others didn't.
I don't think I'll finish the book because the time is drawing near when I'll have to take it back to the library. That's OK. I don't think I've used the little algebra I learnt since leaving school over 50 years ago, so I doubt that I'll have much use for it in the short time left to me. But I'd still like to read a book in which the reasons behind the rules are explained. For a few chapters I thought that this would turn out to be one of those books, but it wasn't.
I found the first few chapters interesting and informative. I was amazed at how what I had learned about vulgar fractions at school came back to me, and made more sense than it ever had at school. Even the beginning of algebra made much more sense. Perhaps it was because more than 30 years of using computers had taught me the uses of variables, though with computers one usually assigns values to variables rather than trying to work out the value of variables in equations. Things I had learnt at school as arbitrary rules suddenly began to make sense. Perhaps they made too much sense, because I found sometimes I could not follow the reasoning in the book, but following my own reasoning was able to solve simple (very simple) equations in my head.
I began to think that algebra could make sense after all.
So I read on, and then came a section where there were a lot of arbitrary unexplained rules that would need to be memorised if I were to make any more progress. Nevertheless, I kept the book in the bathroom and read snatches of it in the bath. Some bits made sense, others didn't.
I don't think I'll finish the book because the time is drawing near when I'll have to take it back to the library. That's OK. I don't think I've used the little algebra I learnt since leaving school over 50 years ago, so I doubt that I'll have much use for it in the short time left to me. But I'd still like to read a book in which the reasons behind the rules are explained. For a few chapters I thought that this would turn out to be one of those books, but it wasn't.
January 5, 2023
Fun with numbers
I do not think of this as Algebra; algebra is complex and exotic. This book is just fun with numbers. Maybe not practical in most of the real world.
I found most books give fake problems that can be figured out much easier with standard math. This book does not try to mask the fact these problems are designed solely to run you through the thought processes needed to solve them.
I would not know what it would be like to actuarially use this book as an introduction. It would take a lot longer than anticipated if you slow down and test and then learn each concept.
There is a good section on translating words into math (chapter 3) and whipping word problems (chapter 19.)
Most of the math in this book is not forgotten in high school but also forgotten in grade school.
I do not think of this as Algebra; algebra is complex and exotic. This book is just fun with numbers. Maybe not practical in most of the real world.
I found most books give fake problems that can be figured out much easier with standard math. This book does not try to mask the fact these problems are designed solely to run you through the thought processes needed to solve them.
I would not know what it would be like to actuarially use this book as an introduction. It would take a lot longer than anticipated if you slow down and test and then learn each concept.
There is a good section on translating words into math (chapter 3) and whipping word problems (chapter 19.)
Most of the math in this book is not forgotten in high school but also forgotten in grade school.
July 1, 2019
This book was very helpful, especially for someone like me who sometimes struggles with confusing teacher demonstrations or explanations. Algebra, while I enjoyed it in Math I found it particularly difficult and this book helped me out a bit. Of course I will need some more practice but I think that for someone who knows nothing about Algebra (like me hahha) they could learn it easily through this book. It provides a very clear explanation of a new term or how to solve certain problems, and then gives examples for you to try which have solutions provided that have a step by step guide of how to get to the answer. Very good book. Highly recommend.
January 3, 2022
I began it and enjoyed it until I realized I couldn't retain it enough to keep it from being just another source of frustration. I'm caring for my parents, both in hospice, and not well myself, so the frustration is not the author's fault. I'll try later and hope I don't discover the fault is completely mine and that I'm just a dolt who can't even deal with a guide for complete idiots. LOL!
June 18, 2012
I used the book as a refresher to prepare for the GRE. It should be noted that I'm terrible at math, am easily confused by it, and hate it as a result.
That being said, I rather liked this book, at least as much as a person like me can like a math book. The examples were pretty easy to follow, and there were a fair number of practice problems to work. The tone could go either way. I can see how people might find it condescending, but being as bad in math as I am I found the tone reassuring, especially whenever I was struggling with a problem and feeling stupid as a result.
That being said, I rather liked this book, at least as much as a person like me can like a math book. The examples were pretty easy to follow, and there were a fair number of practice problems to work. The tone could go either way. I can see how people might find it condescending, but being as bad in math as I am I found the tone reassuring, especially whenever I was struggling with a problem and feeling stupid as a result.
May 15, 2016
‘The maths teacher you’ve always wanted now in book form’ the book tells me, and it’s right.
As someone who missed the whole algebra thing at school due to reasons I always wanted to go cover algebra. This book is so well written and the liberal use of humour in the book really helps things not get bogged down too much. There were times I did need to go to the internet to find some videos on some concepts (I guess I’m a visual leaner), but I’m not going to let that bring down such a great book.
Will definitely keep this for a resource for later study.
As someone who missed the whole algebra thing at school due to reasons I always wanted to go cover algebra. This book is so well written and the liberal use of humour in the book really helps things not get bogged down too much. There were times I did need to go to the internet to find some videos on some concepts (I guess I’m a visual leaner), but I’m not going to let that bring down such a great book.
Will definitely keep this for a resource for later study.
June 20, 2009
Dry. Boring.
August 15, 2013
need to brush up on my skills!! have to take a placement test.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews