Dr. Math Explains Algebra: Learning Algebra Is Easy! Just Ask Dr. Math!

This book has very clear and concise explanations that give readers a real understanding of what's going as opposed to just teaching the steps of algebra. The material is very digestible, too. It's written in a pleasant, informal style with brief introductions to topics followed by question and answer format explanations. My only caveat is that it's not, nor does it claim to be, a thorough guide to Algebra. It's more of a helpful supplement or a great springboard for a class or a more thorough book. This might deter some people who only only want to buy one book for self-study, but many of the explanations of basic concepts in this book are the clearest I've read. As another reviewer said, this book is aimed at young teens, but it's great for anyone. It's not dumbed down or embarrassing for an adult to read. I'm a returning adult student studying to be a math teacher, and this book has helped me clarify a lot of my own ideas about how to teach this stuff.

My goal is to master the algebra that I found so troublesome as a junior high student. As an adult self-learner, I recommend this book highly. Although the illustrations and writing style are pitched at a 12 to 17 year old, I found the information presented clearly and in an easy-to-understand format. For example, the importance of the Pythagorean Theorem is emphasized and then beautifully reinforced with numerous sample problems, worked-out in great detail. Also, the treatment of "completing the square" is the best I have yet encountered. Finally, the author's philosophy of education coincides with my own, namely: difficult material can and should be presented simply as opposed to the all too frequent, presenting simple concepts in an absurdly convoluted and impossible to comprehend manner.