Pre-Algebra: Skills Needed to Advance From Math to ALgebra

by Stephen Bucaro

Some people say "algebra is not useful in my everyday life." Without algebra farmers would not be able to plant and irrigate fields, but that wouldn't matter because without algebra, bakers wouldn't be able bake a recipe. People wouldn't live in houses or buildings because architects need algebra to turn their ideas into real structures. No one would want to work anyway because without algebra no one could calculate a paycheck. There would be no commerce because accountants couldn't calculate transactions. There would be no computers, internet, or smartphones. Mankind would still be swinging from trees in the jungles of Africa. Why are many pre-algebra books so difficult that they discourage the student from ever attempting to learn algebra? It's because they begin by boring the student by presenting concepts that they already learned in mathematics courses. Then they continue by presenting concepts that are actually part of more advanced algebra. The purpose of pre-algebra instruction should be to teach the basic skills needed to make a smooth transition from mathematics to algebra. That's what this book signed integers, signed fractions, order of operations, and how to simplify algebraic expressions. Armed with these skills, the student is prepared to advance on to algebra.

90 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2020