Besides being an important area of math for everyday use, algebra is a passport to studying subjects like calculus, trigonometry, number theory, and geometry, just to name a few. To understand algebra is to possess the power to grow your skills and knowledge so you can ace your courses and possibly pursue further study in math. Algebra II For Dummies is the fun and easy way to get a handle on this subject and solve even the trickiest algebra problems. This friendly guide shows you how to get up to speed on exponential functions, laws of logarithms, conic sections, matrices, and other advanced algebra concepts. In no time you’ll have the tools you need This straightforward guide offers plenty of multiplication tricks that only math teachers know. It also profiles special types of numbers, making it easy for you to categorize them and solve any problems without breaking a sweat. When it comes to understanding and working out algebraic equations, Algebra II For Dummies is all you need to succeed!
This is a very good refresher as I am helping one of kids with Algebra II. I didn't find it to be a great reference book, meaning it wasn't designed for me to quickly look up concepts. It did a nice job of explaining the concepts for the first time.
In the finale, I hadn't heard of "Happy" or "Narcissistic" numbers, so that was a fun little extra.
Sterling teaches algebra concepts thoroughly and with humor. There are practical problems throughout and tidbits of history thrown in where applicable. There's no color to help organize or distinguish concepts and some of the end gets complicated, but neither of those warrant a lower score. A great help if you can get a better deal on it.
This book is interesting for it's friendly approach and sometimes just a wee bit over the top fun filled phrases and attempts to make it all very catchy and cute. I am glad to see much of the new work out there which attempts to make mathematics more accessible for everyone, but I do wish we could see more people first starting with applications that need doing, and then moving to the mathematics that is needed to build the apps (building, house, structure or non-physical apps), and breaking the mathematics down on an as-needed basis rather than insisting on teaching mathematics before the various disciplines or sections of mathematics are actually needed for practical application.
Page 353 has a neat example of the four-color problem.
Great resource. Covers higher level mathematics but far beyond in depth and breadth from what I can remember taking in Gr. 12 algebra and trigonometry. If you can master the contents of the Dummies and mathematics series leading up to Algebra II, as well as Algebra II, you will be well prepared for university mathematics courses. This book is much more difficult than Algebra I.
Very well explained and condensed. If you can download worksheets so as to practice the various skills as you progress, this book makes it easy to advance quite quickly.