Prealgebra for Problem Solvers

The failure of the American public school system to educate the citizens in math and science is well documented and appalling. While major steps have been taken to rectify the problem almost all of them require the one material now in very short supply, money. The majority of colleges and universities have realized that the problem is structural and long term, and are increasing the resources allocated to remedial coursework. With "math phobia" being pandemic in the American society, any remedial textbook must walk a narrow path. It must be understandable without patronizing, encouraging but not simple, and rigorous enough to be relevant. Despite such standards of success, this book hits the center of the target to the second decimal place. Since generalization is an inherent part of the presentation, the reader is not just given operations to perform, mindless in the computer/calculator age, but abstract concepts to internalize. Each item builds on what has preceded it, with many exercises simultaneously testing the old and the new. The inclusion of a section on probability is of particular relevance in the era of government sponsored games of chance. Each section begins with a list of topics, contains practice exercises in the body and closes with a set of problems. All chapters end with a set of review exercises, a chapter test, and a cumulative exam. The answers to all problems appear in the back, and a calculator is a necessary tool to do many of the problems. This book is one part of the cheapest partial solution to the educational dilemma, better materials to teach from. There is additional material for this book:* Test manual;* EXPEST Question bank for IBM compatible computers; and * Lecture/study guidePublished in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission.