In a world where so many things are unclear, 2 + 2 will always equal 4.
My second-greatest joy in teaching math is when a light breaks across a student’s face as they suddenly understand something new. My greatest joy, though, is what often follows: a skepticism that it couldn’t possibly be this easy.
When you approach math right, it’s almost always easier than you think. And a lot of the stuff that hung you up when you first saw it probably isn’t all that scary after all. Many students feel they got lost somewhere along the way on the road between learning to count to ten and their first day in an algebra class — and this may be true whether they’re 14 or 104. If this is you, don’t worry. You’re not alone, and help is right here!
About This Book
This book brings together the four components you need to make sense of math:
Clear explanations of each topic
Example questions with step-by-step answers
Plenty of practice problems (with more available online!)
Chapter quizzes to test your knowledge at the end of most chapters
Although you can certainly work through this book from beginning to end, you don’t have to. Feel free to jump directly to whatever chapter has the type of problems you want to practice. When you’ve worked through enough problems in a section to your satisfaction, feel free to jump to a different section. If you find the problems in a section too difficult, flip back to an earlier section or chapter to practice the skills you need — just follow the cross-references.
Foolish Assumptions
If you’re planning to read this book, you likely fall into one of these categories:
A student who wants a solid understanding of the basics of math for a class or test you’re taking
An adult who wants to improve skills in arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percentages, weights and measures, geometry, algebra, and so on for when you have to use math in the real world
Someone who wants a refresher so you can help another person understand math
My only assumption about your skill level is that you can add, subtract, multiply, and divide. So, to find out whether you’re ready for this book, take this simple test:
| 4 + 7 = ____ | 13 – 5 = ____ | 9 × 3 = ____ | 35 ÷ 7 = ____ |
If you can answer these four questions correctly (the answers are 11, 8, 27, and 5), you’re ready to begin.
Icons Used in This Book
You’ll see the following five icons throughout the book:
Beyond the Book
In addition to the book you’re reading right now, be sure to check out the free Cheat Sheet on Dummies.com. This handy Cheat Sheet covers some common “math demons” that students often stumble over. To access it, simply go to Dummies.com and type Basic Math & Pre-Algebra All in One Cheat Sheet in the Search box.
You’ll also have access to online quizzes related to each chapter, starting with Chapter 3. These quizzes provide a whole new set of problems for practice and confidence-building. To access the quizzes, follow these simple steps:
1 Register your book or ebook at Dummies.com to get your PIN. Go to www.dummies.com/go/getaccess.
2 Select your product from the drop-down list on that page.
3 Follow the prompts to validate your product, and then check your email for a confirmation message that includes your PIN and instructions for logging in.
If you do not receive this email within two hours, please check your spam folder before contacting us through our Technical Support website at http://support.wiley.com or by phone at 877-762-2974.
Now you’re ready to go! You can come back to the practice material as often as you want — simply log on with the username and password you created during your initial login. No need to enter the access code a second time.
Your registration is good for one year from the day you activate your PIN.
Where to Go from Here
You can use this book in a variety of ways. If you’re reading without immediate time pressure from a test or homework assignment, start at the beginning and keep going, chapter by chapter, to the end. If you do this, you’ll be surprised by how much of the math you may have been dreading will be almost easy. Additionally, setting up some solid groundwork is a great way to prepare for what follows later in the book.
If your time is limited — especially if you’re taking a math course and you’re looking for help with your homework or an upcoming test — skip directly to the topic you’re studying. Wherever you open the book, you can find a clear explanation of the topic at hand, as well as a variety of hints and tricks. Read through the examples and try to do them yourself, or use them as templates to help you with assigned problems.
Unit 1
Getting
