Math book for grownups who've forgotten math?

ironkurtin

In helping my daughter with her third grade math I realized I have forgotten how to do algebra. (Not that she was doing algebra, I just suddeny realized as I was reducing fractions that I had forgotten A LOT and I wouldn't be able to isolate X for money.)

I know there are smart ladies, homeschooling moms, and fabulous teachers on the forum. Any recommendations for a math book that will refresh my skills? Say from basics through, I dunno, trig?

11 years ago

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10 replies

Latest reply was from Kim

LAR101

Active Member

A few years ago my sister-in-law recommended "Math on Call" to me.

This was recommended by her son's school for the parents of 6th graders to read so they could understand the math the kids were learning.
She used it and recommended it to me. Might be worth a try.

From my notes:

"Math on Call" for 6th grade - also for parents to read to help them explaing math

ISBN-13:978-0-669-50819-2

ISBN-10:0-669-50819-5

Houghton Mifflin

11 years ago

LAR101

Active Member

Just looked on-line and there is a whole series of these math books.
This is the title for grades 3-4: "Math to Know"

Math to Know: A Mathematics Handbook, Grades 3-4
ISBN 10: 0669535966 / 0-669-53596-6
ISBN 13: 9780669535969
Publisher: GREAT SOURCE
Publication Date: 2006
Binding: Softcover

11 years ago

abc

Veteran

I'm such a nerd I might look into these just for fun. My kids are 2 and 1, so I have a few years to catch up

11 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

When DH is out (call him math Dad), I often refer to Khan Academy videos online. Now, I find them a bit overlong and dull, so I always search for Mahalo Math videos when they're available for the subject at hand. They're short, concise, and awesome Julie can write the math backwards on a glass in front of her while she talks. She's saved my butt more than once.
An example, dividing fractions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zED6DFflsAI

11 years ago

catherine

Veteran

IK, I like to use this for students who need a review. In fact, I use it for a lot of things.
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra

11 years ago

Echo

Veteran

Most schools have adopted national standard core curriculum, which has really thrown a lot of classrooms into a tailspin. That's not to say the standards aren't good, just that most schools were teaching the same things but in a different order in the past, so changing kind of mixed everyone up the first/second year.

The main issue for us is that the kids use workbooks that are part book, part workbook and they rip pages out as they go. This means that one cannot look back over the beginning of the chapter or at previous lessons to refresh themselves (more a problem for parents than the kids!).

When I need a quick explanation, I use this site (although I work in the school, so I am often helping in a math room and so am up to speed):
http://www.sosmath.com/

11 years ago

amiable

Veteran

I second khan academy. We also like the Dragon Box app for algebra. It's $6, and very worth while

11 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I've heard good things about Danica McKellar's math books (yup, the gal who played Winnie in The Wonder Years). They are aimed at a teenage mostly girl audience, though. For books aimed at grownups, I think the Cartoon Guide to Physics is great - maybe there are ones for statistics, algebra, etc.?

11 years ago

April

Veteran

After you've brushed up some actual skills, there are also some fun math books that are more stories filled with math wonder than skill books. When my son was younger, we blazed through a series about Penrose the mathematical cat by Theoni Pappas -- if you look up the Penrose books on Amazon I'm sure it will pull a number of other good ones too.

11 years ago

Kim

Veteran

I like the Math On Call book, I used it a lot as a homeschooling mom. It's set up more like a reference/resource book than a workbook, so you can pick the subject, peruse the page ( in easy to understand language) and voila, refresh! Highly recommend!

11 years ago

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