Mathematics Made Simple: Sixth Edition [Paperback]

I have tutored a great number of students in math. Most of these students (even ones who have progressed to Pre-Calculus and beyond) are lacking an understanding of basic mathematics (or have long since forgotten). For adult students who have been out of math class for 20 years or more, especially if they consider themselves to be poor math students, I prefer to start at "the beginning".

That's where this book comes in. It covers whole numbers (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division), fractions (prime numbers, factoring, operations), decimals (converting to/from fractions, operations), percents (converting to/from decimals or fractions, word problems, ratios and proportions), negative numbers, algebraic expressions (translating from words into symbols, exponents, solving), polynomials (factoring binomials, quadratics, and trinomials), linear equations (ordered pairs, graphing, slope, solving systems of equations by elimination or substitution, quadratic equations (standard form, roots and factoring, quadratic formula, completing the square), sequences and series (arithmetic, geometric), geometry (lines and angles, constructions, relationships, parallels and transversals, congruence theorems, circles, polygons, similar figures), measurement of geometric figures (areas of quadrilaterals/triangles/circles, Pythagorean theorem, volume and surface area of solids, metric system), graphs, probability (permutations, combinations), and trigonometry.

I particularly like the discussion of "completing the square" as this topic is usually not well discussed in modern math textbooks (leaving students thoroughly confused about a fairly simple technique). There is also a nice discussion of geometric constructions, which I remember vividly from ninth grade geometry, but have yet to meet a student in the past ten years who has even heard of this (although I had a great, tough teacher).

I am currently using this book to prepare an adult student for the Accuplacer exam (math placement exam in college), but have a reference copy for myself as well. I believe it would be useful for homeschool families, adults taking a math class, and anyone who wants a good reference of the most relevant math topics.

If there is a better, all-around beginning math book, I haven't found it. Highly recommended.

This book is ok for a review... if you have already learned this stuff long ago and understand the CONCEPTS very well.

There are several errors in this book. Some are surprisingly simple. For example, page 26 has a list of prime numbers. They list 45 as a prime number. Page 38 has a demonstration that uses wrong numbers. How can an editor allow such blatant errors?
If you dont already know math, this book could lead you astray. Of course, I only did the first 2 chapters.

This book calls itself a "complete introduction to algebra, geometry and trigonometry", I disagree. This book is not a good starting point for those wanting to learn these branches of mathematics for the first time. If you haven't studied algebra, geometry and trigonometry don't try to learn them from this book. The descriptions are not adequate for someone with no experience in these fields of math.

However, if you want a pretty decent review of math that will get you ready to take, or re-take calculus, this book works. I would expect a little more clarity in the descriptions from a 6th edition.