Читать книгу U Can: Algebra I For Dummies - Sterling Mary Jane - Страница 2

One of the most commonly asked questions in an algebra classroom is, “What will I ever use this for?” Some teachers can give a good, convincing answer. Others hem and haw and stare at the floor. My favorite answer is, “Algebra gives you power.” Algebra gives you the power to move on to bigger and better things in mathematics. Algebra gives you the power of knowing that you know something that your neighbor doesn’t know. Algebra gives you the power to be able to help someone else with an algebra task or to explain to your child these logical mathematical processes.

Algebra is a system of symbols and rules that is universally understood, no matter what the spoken language. Algebra provides a clear, methodical process that can be followed from beginning to end. It’s an organizational tool that is most useful when followed with the appropriate rules. What power! Some people like algebra because it can be a form of puzzle solving. You solve a puzzle by finding the value of a variable. You may prefer Sudoku or Ken Ken or crosswords, but it wouldn’t hurt to give algebra a chance, too.

This book is filled with algebra problems you can study, solve, and learn from. But you’re not going to be doing these problems alone. As you proceed through this book, you’ll see plenty of road signs that clearly mark the way. You’ll find plenty of explanations, examples, and other bits of info to make this journey as smooth an experience as possible. As you work through the practice problems, you also get to do your own grading with the solutions I provide at the end of each problem set. You can even go back and change your answers to the correct ones, if you made an error. No, you’re not cheating. You’re figuring out how to correctly work algebra problems. (Actually, changing answers to the correct ones is a great way to learn from your mistakes.)

Remember, mathematics is a subject that has to be handled. You can read English literature and understand it without having to actually write it. You can read about biological phenomena and understand them, too, without taking part in an experiment. Math is different. You really do have to do it, practice it, play with it, and use it. Only then does the mathematics become a part of your knowledge and skills. And what better way to get your fingers wet than by jumping into this workbook? Remember, only practice, practice, and some more practice can help you master algebra! You will have the power!

About This Book

This book isn’t like a mystery novel; you don’t have to read it from beginning to end. In fact, you can peek at how it ends and not spoil the rest of the story.

I divide the book into some general topics – from the beginning nuts and bolts to the important tool of factoring to equations and applications. So you can dip into the book wherever you want, to find the information you need.

I introduce basic concepts and properties first and then move on to the more complex ones. That way, if you’re pretty unsteady on your feet, algebra-wise, you can begin at the beginning and build your skills and your confidence as you progress through the different chapters.

But maybe you don’t need practice problems from beginning to end. Maybe you just need a bit of extra practice with specific types of algebra problems. One nice thing about this book is that you can start wherever you want. If your nemesis is graphing, for example, you can go straight to the chapters that focus on graphing. Formulas your problem area? Then go to the chapters that deal with formulas.

Bottom line: You do need the basic algebra concepts to start anywhere in this book, but after you have those down, you can pick and choose where you want to work. You can jump in wherever you want and work from there.

Finally, the sidebars (those little gray boxes) are interesting but not essential to your understanding of the text. If you’re short on time, you can skip the sidebars. Of course, if you read them, I think you’ll be entertained. You can also skip anything marked by a Technical Stuff icon (see “Icons Used in This Book” for more information).

Foolish Assumptions

When writing this book, I made the following assumptions about you, my dear reader:

✓ You already have reasonable experience with basic algebra concepts and want an opportunity to practice those skills.

✓ You took or currently are taking Algebra I, but you need to brush up on certain areas.

✓ Your son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, niece, nephew, or special someone is taking Algebra I. You haven’t looked at an equation for years, and you want to help him or her.

✓ You love math, and your idea of a good time is solving equations on a rainy afternoon while listening to your iPod.

Beyond the Book

Your adventure with algebra doesn’t have to end when you’ve finished reading this book. I’ve put some more goodies online for you to enjoy:

✓ Cheat Sheet: The Cheat Sheet for this book covers everything from key formulas you should memorize to rules of divisibility to the order of operations and more. You can find it at www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/ucanalgebra1.

✓ Online articles: I couldn’t fit everything I wanted into this book, so you can find additional content at www.dummies.com/extras/ucanalgebra1. You can find articles on factoring trinomials using the “box” method, the golden ratio, finding the area of a triangle using its coordinates, and ten tips on avoiding algebra pitfalls.

✓ Online practice and study aids: The online practice that comes free with this book offers 1,001 questions and answers that allow you to gain more practice with Algebra I concepts. The beauty of the online questions is that you can customize your online practice to focus on the topic areas that give you the most trouble. So, if you need help with factoring or story problems, just select those question types online and start practicing. Or if you’re short on time but want to get a mixed bag of a limited number of questions, you can specify the number of questions you want to practice. Whether you practice a few hundred questions in one sitting or a couple dozen, and whether you focus on a few types of questions or practice every type, the online program keeps track of the questions you get right and wrong so you can monitor your progress and spend time studying exactly what you need.

To gain access to the online practice, all you have to do is register. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Find your PIN code.

• Print-book users: If you purchased a hard copy of this book, turn to the front of this book to find your PIN.

• E-book users: If you purchased this book as an e-book, you can get your PIN by registering your e-book at www.dummies.com/go/getaccess. Simply select your book from the drop-down menu, fill in your personal information, and then answer the security question to verify your purchase. You’ll then receive an e-mail with your PIN.

2. Go to http://onlinepractice.dummies.com.

3. Enter your PIN.

4. Follow the instructions to create an account and establish your own login information.

Now you’re ready to go! You can come back to the online program as often as you want – simply log on with the username and password you created during your initial login. No need to enter the PIN a second time.

Tip: If you have trouble with your PIN or can’t find it, contact Wiley Product Technical Support at 877-762-2974 or go to http://wiley.custhelp.com.

Where to Go from Here

Ready to start? All psyched and ready to go? Then it’s time to take this excursion in algebra. Yes, this book is a grand adventure just waiting for you to take the first step. If you want to refresh your basic skills or boost your confidence, start with Part I. If you’re ready for some factoring practice and need to pinpoint which method to use with what, go to Part II. Part III is for you if you’re ready to solve equations; you can find just about any type you’re ready to attack. Part IV is where the good stuff is – applications – things to do with all those good solutions. The lists in Part V are usually what you’d look at after visiting one of the other parts, but why not start there? It’s a fun place!

Studying algebra can give you some logical exercises. As you get older, the more you exercise your brain cells, the more alert and “with it” you remain. “Use it or lose it” means a lot in terms of the brain. What a good place to use it, right here!

The best why for studying algebra is just that it’s beautiful. Yes, you read that right. Algebra is poetry, deep meaning, and artistic expression. Just look, and you’ll find it. Also, don’t forget that it gives you power.

Welcome to algebra! Enjoy the adventure!