Just the facts (and figures) to understanding algebra.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Algebra has been updated to include easier-to-read graphs and additional practice problems. It covers variations of standard problems that will assist students with their algebra courses, along with all the basic concepts, including linear equations and inequalities, polynomials, exponents and logarithms, conic sections, discrete math, word problems and more.

—Written in an easy-to-comprehend style to make math concepts approachable
—Award-winning math teacher and author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Calculus and the bestselling advanced placement book in ARCO’s “Master” series

5 Responses to “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Algebra, 2nd Edition”

1. Erin M. Ellingwood says:

   February 17, 2010 at 12:00 am

   I graduated from college a few years ago, but I’m currently taking night classes to earn a pre-medical studies diploma so I can apply to vet school. One of the big requirements for veterinary school is at least 2 semesters of college math–something I didn’t have from my undergrad experience. So I decided to start off my night classes with Precalculus and move up to Calculus.

   But there was a flaw in my plan: I hadn’t taken math since high school and had forgotten most of what I had learned.

   Enter “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Algebra”. I decided on this book because it combines both Algebra I and Algebra II into one tome. The author keeps his tone friendly and funny and I found myself remembering a lot more than I thought I would. There aren’t an abundance of practice problems, but there are 2 problems for each “concept” (1 guided and 1 to do on your own). That was more than enough for me.

   This is a great book if, like me, you’ve already taken Algebra at some point but it was years ago. You remember a lot more than you think!
2. Liverpoolfc says:

   February 11, 2010 at 12:00 am

   So far book has been well written and easy to follow. Been awhile since algebra in h.s. and college, so hopefully helps me catch up without much pain.
3. xylenol15 says:

   December 22, 2009 at 12:00 am

   I actually used to be bad at math. I managed to pass all my courses through middle school and got mediocre grades, but mostly because I did well on all the soft grades (projects, HW graded for completeness, etc.). When I got to high school my poor math skills were catching up with me, and I knew it. Passing Algebra I Honors with a seventy-something and failing several tests, I finally came across this book and dove into it when I came down with a cold and took a few days off from school. After this book I suddenly understood algebra much better and gradually over the next two years math became my best subject. This was all pretty important for me because I had planned to major in physics for a long time, and if it wasn’t for this book I may never have caught up and gotten the math background I needed. It’s strange to think of where I might be now if this book had never been written.

   As for the book, the clarity is excellent. You will not find proofs here, but expect plenty of heuristics and analogies designed for the troubled algebra beginner. Practice problems are sparse, but problem sets from other sources (even the textbook!) will be much more accessible after reading this book. If I could give this book more than five stars……
4. J. Taylor says:

   October 2, 2009 at 12:00 am

   I stink at math, its totally a foreign language to me. I am currently trying to teach myself algebra so that I can forgo the elementary algebra and intermediate algebra before doing college algebra and my other math classes. So far out of ALL of the books I have purchased (A total of 9) THIS BOOK REALLY EXPLAINS things and makes me feel GOOD that I am actually GETTING MATH for the first time since middle school. I would definitely recommend this book to those who ARE having a hard time with math, just learning math, or revisiting math. I have yet to finish the book, but so far, it ROCKS!!!!
5. Gregory R. Hunter says:

   October 10, 2008 at 12:00 am

   I’ve always struggled with math. From grade school through college, math has clouded my academic life. I held my own in Geometry, but Algebra, Trig, and Calculus were like a 3-volume mystery with half the pages missing. It was all simply incomprehensible. It didn’t “click” for me–made no sense. No math teacher could penetrate my thick skull.

   I was a “C” math student in high school and college, mostly due to charity from my instructors. I really didn’t deserve to pass. I just wrote math off as impossible and went on with my life. Now as a military retiree enjoying a second career as a technical instructor, I feel I should have at least some grasp of math. Is it too late for me? Am I too old? I thought so until I started reading this little book.

   What a breath of fresh air! My high school and college experiences would have been MUCH less stressful if someone had explained Algebra to me the way this book has. The humor is silly–the jokes are beyond corny. Yet the informal tone completely deflates the menace of Algebra. Math texts always seemed sinister to me–as unknowable as a book of voodoo spells. By contrast, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide…” is about as menacing as the funny papers. The author chats about Algebra topics and techniques the way I might chat about football scores–as though it’s no big deal.

   And it isn’t a big deal. Once I cracked the cover, I was solving & graphing equations within a couple of hours. More importantly, I understood what I was doing and why. That was a totally new experience. I went through a third of the book in two days, and I correctly solved every practice problem. I can’t wait to get to the rest of it. That’s new too. I’ve never, EVER looked forward to a math lesson before. So should you buy this book? Maybe. It isn’t for everybody.

   If you are a skilled or even average math student, you probably don’t need it. If you are a highly effective math teacher–ditto. However, if you are a math tutor or a teacher struggling with tough cases (guys like me, for example) you really need to see the author’s angle on Algebra instruction. If you are a “weak swimmer” like me, you absolutely should buy a copy. If you have been out of school a long time and you need a quick refresher, this book’s a natural. If your own kids are struggling with Algebra and you don’t know how to help them, this is how to help them!

   Like my title says: I sure wish I’d had this book when I was in High School.