(re)learning math for adults

[geekchic9]

I bought Saxon's Algebra II a few months ago, and I'm not too crazy about the format. I don't have the discipline for Saxon, I suppose. I was wondering what math textbooks other adults have tried and how much success they have had with these textbooks.

Geekchic9

[Mungo]

Have you looked at the Barron's "Easy Way" series? I know several people who've used these books successfully to prepare for the GREs. Here's the general math one:

Math the Easy Way (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764120115/)

They have titles for geometry and algebra as well as other subjects (foreign languages, science).

[geekchic9]

That looks interesting. Thanks!

Geekchic9

[geekchic9]

I have discovered something about math textbooks and wrote about it in my blog. (http://latincenteredselfeducation.blogspot.com/2006/05/search-for-perfect-textbook.html) An excerpt:

"I wanted something:

* cheap (less than $50 new or used)
* thorough (in explanations and problem sets, including review)
* logical (in presentation and structure of the book)

And I discovered I had to pick two of the three characteristics to find a book. Saxon is relatively cheap and thorough, but it doesn't have a very logical presentation. Lots of books (Schaum's Outlines, Math the Easy Way, Singapore Math) are cheap and logical, but are not thorough enough for my needs. Teaching Textbooks and Systemic Math programs are thorough and logical, but they're not cheap."

[edblouin]

Euclid is cheap, logical and thorough and certainly it's a great place to start. Much of the works of the ancient and even not so ancient mathematicians are surprisingly accessable. The only problem I would see with this approach would be that these books don't use the "problem" approach to learning. Modern textbooks heavily rely on problems since that is what they are really teaching: mathematical problem solving. Euclid on the otherhand is looking at geometry more like a piece of art, something that may lead to something else but is a good in itself to be appreciated. So I suppose you'd have to decide in what direction your math studies are headed.

YIC,

JCEB

[A Priori]

I'm very happy with the texts I'm using:

Gelfand's Algebra
Aufmann, Barker, and Nation's College Algebra
Geometry by Peter Selby, part of the Riley 'Self-Teaching' series

I read Gelfand (and solve the problems) for more 'theoretical' work, which strengthens my 'proof' skills. I then reread and take notes on the same basic subject in Aufmann (I know, it's a remedial text, but it's actually very good, and was recommended to me by an excellent teacher), doing all of the exercises to strengthen my skills the old-fashioned way. I'm working through Selby as an entirely independent endeavor, just so that I can finally know all the plane geometry I was never taught. Once I'm finished, I plan on going through Euclid's Elements. I'm also seeing a (cheap) private math tutor once a week, mostly for more exercises and the chance to ask someone a few questions.

Of course, I'm kind of in a unique situation. I have a very solid trigonometry background but a very weak algebra and plane geometry background. I know enough to survive at least introductory college calculus, as I did score a 4 on the AP Calculus AB test last May. I had an excellent teacher in 11th and 12th grades who brought my class up from basically an algebra-free math curriculum to the end of AP Calculus AB in one year. He had a very effective pedagogical approach which I've tried to emulate in my choice of books above:

The trick to being good at math isn't to memorize how to solve every single type of problem. It's to step back and see the big picture. Once you do that, you can fill in all the details yourself as you play around with challenging exercises. Don't mistake this strategy for the 'fuzzy math' that the people at Mathematically Correct (http://www.mathematicallycorrect.com/) are always (rightly) harpooning, though. Lots of drill is still necessary, and my teacher would always assign killer amounts of homework.