ThatOnePerson

I'm not in school but i've been really into math lately. i am looking for a good textbook type reading to brush up on my algebra and trig. and another to get into some pre calc and eventually get into some more serious stuff. this is just something i like to do in my free time, so books for "the lay person" are fine as long as they have a good amount of information and practice problems w/answers. just lookin for some opinions.

__________________
I don't like long signatures.

Slavakion

Well, I'm not sure what to recommend, really. But Saxon puts out a 3 book algebra series (Algebra 1, 2, and Advanced) and it was pretty good. The problem sets were cumulative, meaning that in section 49 you got some problems from 28 so that you didn't forget.

ThatOnePerson

what topics are covered in the advanced? i am pretty decent in algebra, just need a quick refresher in that and trig. precalc and calc are my real interests.

__________________
I don't like long signatures.

Paradise Lost

You could always try www.math.com, or www.aaamath.com, the latter
is more of links to other sites, but seems like a decent resource. Or just search google for
Math, there are tons of free stuff out there on the web without you having to buy a textbook,
which would cost a bunch.

vbuser

Why not just read over some high school notes?

hehe

Stompy

Here's a good site on some calc/pre-calc stuff: http://archives.math.utk.edu/visual.calculus/

I actually use that to study for my calc 2 class (well, up until they stopped covering more advanced topics). It'll teach you the basics of calc, like derivatives and all that good stuff.

If you're good at algebra, you'd just need to brush up on stuff like logarithms. You don't need trig so much... at least, I haven't needed it yet in calc 2 aside from the basic "cos = adjacent / hypotenuse" type of stuff when doing trigonometric integration. Then again, you'd just need to know that tan = sin/cos, or csc = 1/sin, sec = 1/cos, cot = cos/sin, etc.. and the basic identity functions (like cos^2 + sin^2 = 1), but that's really all in pre-calc.

[edit]
Now that I think about it, I never ONCE had trig. Ever. I never struggled in pre-calc either because of it, so I'd say don't worry about it that much.

__________________
I love lamp.

The Magic

The text book we use in my AP Calc class is called CALCULUS Concepts and Contexts Single Variable by James Stewart.
I like it a lot. I don't generally pay attention in class and just use the book to teach myself and it works really well. The examples are done nicely.

aerozeppelin

I used a book by Howard Anton in AP Calc... I THINK this is the on http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...629576-4431823
I've also used the Steward book mentioned in the post above, but I preferred the Anton book - though I did use them for very different parts of calculus.

I'd also recommend getting a TI-89 if your interested in math - very powerful calculator, it can get you an A on most any test you can use it on/can get you an 800 on the SAT math or SAT II math.

frozenstellar

i've used the multivariable edition of this textbook this year. top book.

Stompy

Beware - there are actually a lot of places that won't let you use these in higher math classes because of how well they work your problems (derivative and otherwise) for you.

There were a few people in my Calc 1 (and even now in Calc 2) that had the 89's, and the professor told them they weren't allowed to use it.

__________________
I love lamp.

Slavakion

That 3 book series covers all algebra, geometry, and trig. It even covers some precalc, with the trig, functions and logarithms.

planets

I love mathematics, but have always been turned off by books that jump right into the theorems and stuff. I suggest to keep your interest kindled, you should read books that deal with these theorems on the sideline. Most mathematical methods are developed for some reason anyway, and some of them are just developed cos people were looking for challenges.
To this end, i think you should read the book on fermat's last theorem by Dr Simon Singh. It's an amazing book covering lots of stuff on number theory and algebra. The concepts introduced are not difficult to grasp, and it's got the authority and of an ancient mystery to keep u gripped. Apparently, Fermat, the man, saw the proof for this last theorem of his but felt that he did not need to write it down as it was too simple (or because he didn't have enough space on his little pieces of parchments, i can't remember the specifics). It turns out that Dr Simon Singh and friends (well not exactly friends because Dr Singh went the mile alone) had to introduce some mind boggling conjectures to deal with it. Whether fermat really knew a simple proof is beyond us, but heck, he sure left one big legacy neatly summed up and solved by one of the brightest minds in our generation.

phukraut

I can sympathize with difficult texts! But I'd say, if the parent really wants to learn math, and not just interesting facts about math history, then the answer is a textbook. As Euclid (or was it Menaechmus?) supposedly said,

One needs to be able to do well-designed problem sets to really get the hang of things.

the420star

i would say go online to some major universites and read circulums for calc 1.... most of these books carry from upper level algebra through calc 3... as much as you want to learn

__________________
No, they arnt breasts, they are personalities, because its ok to like a girl for her personalities.

1010011010

I'd recommend getting a TI-89 if you're interested in computers and learning to type with your thumbs. I've already expressed my thoughts on the subject of graphing calculators..

If you're interested in math, half the fun is figuring out all the cool stuff, and then making the calculator slog through the actual number crunching part. It's not fun if you have the calculator do that part, too.

If you live near a decently sized school, I say go to the University bookstore. Find the math section, and flip through textbooks until you find one that has the level and course design you want. Then go buy it used from one of the other bookstores in the area.

__________________
Simple Machines in Higher Dimensions

daking

I would only ever use a graphical calculator to check my answers. Graphing basic polynomial or exponential graphs is a required skill and secures a strong foundation in visualising math functions.

Dont use it as a crutch.

Rangsk

My suggestion is similar to 1010011010's - go for the college textbooks, not the highschool textbooks. Highschool ones are barely adequate for highschool students, and you're out of school.

Of course, going to the university bookstore is only a good idea if you plan on writing down the book titles and ordering them online. Universtiy bookstores will charge you at least twice as much for the books, which will set you back at least $50/book more than is necessary.

__________________
"Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose." -- Douglas Adams

1010011010

Also, if the current shiny new edition is 10th... look for the 9th. I seriously doubt amazing new breakthroughs have been made in maths, but the fact that the 9th edition is now "outdated" will depress its pricetag, new or used.

I'd recommend buying used, but look through to make sure the previous owner(s) didn't have some arcane highlighting scheme.

__________________
Simple Machines in Higher Dimensions

Slavakion

Damn straight. It's a lot easier when you can visualize it in your mind. Even more so when you can recognize a graph as being x-cubed or whatever. Right now in calc, we're finding all kinds of information about a function analytically (read: ain't no calc) in order to graph it. Stuff like min/maxes, concavity...

The less you learn to depend on your calc, the easier it'll be when you have to give it up.