Schaum's Outline of Elementary Algebra, 3ed

Some people complain about the answers posted right under the short practice sequences. I wish more math books followed this configuration. For me, immediate access to the answer helped me get the next practice question correct; therefore, more correct answers which reinforces proper technique. Also, much time is saved with this method from not flipping the book over for each problem. It's easy to take a piece of paper, fold it in half and cover the answers once the sequence is understood well. Another thing I love about this book is the small blocks with a very small change in each step. This is important for people who need extra work because the concepts don't come naturally to everyone. I struggled with math for years and when I found this book it finally started to make sense! I started with the first page and worked each page in sequence presented by Mr. Rich, taking as much time as I needed to really understand each concept, and worked each practice problem in the order presented, because the problems also add complexity within the block of concept practice. After I worked through this book, I took the class at the local community college, easily made an A and also picked up some of the more subtle concepts from the classroom work. My only complaint is that there are a few wrong answers in this text, so I did get a more advanced math person to look at those as I came across them. This purchase was a book to share, probably the third or fourth copy I've purchased for other people who struggle as I did. I highly recommend this book for people who struggle with math and really want to learn!

I use this book as a teacher of the GMAT. Adult students frequently complain that it has been too long since they were in a math class. This book does a great job of getting my students back into math mode. The drill questions are very quick and therefore satisfying. If you aren't a "quant" you need decent reinforcement to keep going through a math set. This book does that. It satisfies the teacher's need for the student to reacquaint with exponent rules/number properties/remainder theory/etc. And it satisfies the student's need to feel like he/she is making progress. I've taught over 2500 students in the past 3 years and have recommended this book hundreds of times. The students who actually do (not just look at) the problems have made substantial score improvements. The biggest challenge is getting a student to actually do the drills. You have to physically do the problems. Scribble something down. Don't pretend you calculated in your head. Most students will stare at the page and convince themselves they know what they are doing. Huge fail for the student. With the answers located directly below the question, it is easy for a student to think he/she is confirming knowledge prematurely. Pros - Substantial drills - Succinct content - Relatively few errors (as compared with several other primers in this space) Cons - Answers directly below questions (only a problem for students selling themselves short, academic laziness)

I was surprised and partially disappointed with both this book and the education system in a nearby county that much of graph plotting has been taken out of Algebra I and placed into Geometry. I may be mistaken in my assumption that teaching graphing should be done in Algebra as well as geometry. Other than that issue it is well written and provides a clear methodology and practice for learning the essentials of Algebra I

Well, am a college student and i had never be good at math. I was having some problems in understanding some exercises so my teacher mentioned about this book and i can say that it helped me a lot to understand and do well on the course. Right now i'm still taking math courses (advanced algreba) and i refer to this great book when i forget something. I strongly recommend this book to everyone who is looking to improve their skills, have more practice or understand better. This book is great tool.

These books are great! I discovered them as an EE major at the University of Maryland. I am quite sure that my grades in calculus, complex variables and linear algebra would not have been nearly as good without them. Any time I was having a problem I would cover the worked problem in Schaum's with one sheet of paper and start trying to solve it on another. I would uncover each step in the Schaum's after trying it myself and that always corrected whatever misunderstanding I had. These are the only text books I kept. I've been retired for nine years and hadn't used any of that math for years before that. Use it or lose it. I recently decided that I would rather review all that math than solve Sudoku puzzles. Yes, I am a major nerd.

It was 30 years ago that I used Schaum's series for myself. I find the explanation to be clear and easy to understand. I recently bought the Elementary Algebra (3rd Edition) for my daughter and tonight was the first time I sat down to get her to practice solving a few problems. Out of five problems I randomly picked for her to solve, one had an incorrect answer (5.5L). I thought my math skill had gotten rusty after 30 years, so I tried another similar problem (5.5j). The answer was again obviously incorrect, so I went on the internet to see if others had the same experience. I wasn't the only one and I am disappointed that I had to tell my daughter to follow the explanation, do the problems but ignore the answers.

Back in the olden days, before you could Google the Pythagorean theorem or go on YouTube and watch a math major explain how to calculate the slope intercept of a line on the y axis, people like your mom and dad, even grandparents, had to look up information the old fashioned way, using books. In case you lose electricity or your internet goes out, you are going to need this book. It won't blow up your data plan on your smart phone by looking up an answer. The bottom line, you're going to need these step-by-step examples in you're going to learn how to be successful in math. Try it. It won't bite and the battery will never die on you.

I had struggled a lot with remembering Math from over 12 years earlier. The Kaplans and the Dummies GRE Prep books were great, but I needed a LOT more drilling than they offered. I used this book for 2 weeks, and in conjunction with my other studies, improved my GRE Math score by 360 points. Yes, 360 points. This book was very useful and the best bang for the buck I could find.

Currently at UK uni after not going to school for over 35 years, plus I did not really attend the last two years so I lost a lot of time in Math class. Even though these are an American series of books they work just as well in the UK. The book starts of at the beginning and the problems get harder as you go. It has 2000 fully solved problems which instead of being at the back of the book they are where the examples are, that way you can actually get used to the methods for solving the problems. I have a few from this now, great series of books for someone who is self learning or someone that wants to get a top up.

Easy to understand, great examples

Schaum's always produce high quality books to learn

I am used to these books as I have used them before.

An excellent book to aid learning in basic and fundament Algebra. Easily read and understood. Has hundreds of solved problems set out step by step as well as other to enhance learning. Used extensively in tutoring this area of mathematics.