Short-Cut Math

What a great little book! If you are like me, doing most of your math through computers, you may find the need to go back and brush up on the fundamentals. For me, one of the most valuable sections was on how to set up a columnar addition problem to work it left to right. I can do long division, algebra....you name it...but I have had problems adding columns of numbers in the conventional manner. Perhaps its a form of dyslexia. Anyway, Kelly shows you how to work the problems left to right, which I found helpful. His explanation of aliquot relationships was better than I got in junior high. I like the emphasis on learning to work the problem to the level of precision you need. Say, if your house is so many square feet rounded and you want to find out how much paint will cover the surface, you may require 5.452 gallons of paint, but you'll have to buy 6 gallons from the store. So what's the point of the precision? This book is exceptionally well written. Each problem is worked out or resolved completely. When I used it, I covered up the answers and worked each problem. I spent no more than 20-30 minutes a day to keep it fresh and drudgery free.

I live a life dominated by numbers so anything I find that speeds the manipulation of large computations is a godsend. This little book handles the equation nicely. Its unassuming stature hides a powerhouse of mathematical linguistics that brings speed and better accuracy to a wide range of numerical problem solving situations. It's simple, clean-cut approach to finding easy solutions to everyday math problems should be a tremendous help to everyone who reads it.

Being slightly math phobic, I have always tried to find easier ways to solve math problems. This book gave my current methods credibility and gave me new ideas and methods to try. It even helped me feel more confident about my abilities. I'm sure just about anyone could get something out of this book.