Sidebotham T.H. The A to Z of Mathematics. A Basic Guide

John Wiley, 2002. — 483 p.Throughout the world many people suffer from the same problem: math anxiety. No other area of skill seems to polarize people so readily into two contrasting groups, those who can do math and those who cannot. Of the two groups, the second one is by far the larger. To succeed in mathematics you need to understand the basics, and only then can you learn with confidence. Many people fall at this first hurdle and then struggle later. My aim in writing this book is to guide you through the basics so that you can develop an understanding of mathematical processes. As you study this book you will become aware of how mathematics relates to everyday life and situations with which you are familiar. Study this book in depth, simply browse, or search for the meaning of a word, and learn your math again. Why should you go to this trouble? Whatever your age, mathematics is one of the basic requirements of life. This study of mathematics will make a difference.
This book is written in an appropriate language for explaining basic mathematics to the general reader, and uses examples drawn from everyday life. There are many worked examples with detailed steps of working. Each step of working is accompa- nied by an explanation. It is this process of showing HOW and explaining WHY that gives this book its unique style. Those mathematical abbreviations that often frustrate readers are written in full and the text is "user-friendly." For quick reference the for- mat of the book is alphabetical, and it covers topics in basic mathematics. They are linked together with cross-references so that a theme can be followed through. This book is a great deal more than a dictionary. Under each entry there is a straightfor- ward explanation of the term, followed in many cases by carefully worked examples, showing the relevance of mathematics in the world around us. At the end of some entries the reader is directed to other references in the book if some prior knowledge is needed. The mathematics is reliable and up to date, and encompasses a wide range of topics so that everyone will find something of interest.
The material in the book falls into three categories.
1. There are processes that explain specific skills; a typical example is the entry Algebra.
2. There are straightforward definitions of words with applications in the world around us, as in the entry Proportion.
3. There is a variety of enrichment material that has good entertainment value, like Hexomino.
I believe there is something of interest for everyone. If you are curious about mathematics and it intrigues you, now may be the time to take the initiative and discover that you indeed have skills in this area of knowledge. Some people need the maturity of a few more years before they achieve success. If you are making a career change and need to revise your mathematical knowledge, then this book is for you. The book will appeal to everyone, even students, who may be interested in, or need to catch up on, basic mathematics. If you are a parent who desires to help your son or daughter and lack the expertise, then this book is for you also. The style and presentation of the book are chosen specifically to suit the lay reader. It is a useful resource for home schooling situations. I hope it is a rich source of ideas for mathematics teachers and also those who are in teacher training, whatever subject in which they are specializing.
You will need a scientific calculator to follow through the steps of working in some of the examples. In statistical topics the reader is referred to the calculator handbook for its use, because brands of calculators can vary so much. The whole book is cross-referenced. If readers are not familiar with the explanations given in a specific entry, they are advised to first read the references at the end of the entry to prepare the groundwork. This book contains an abundance of diagrams, equations, tables, graphs, and worked examples. An emphasis is placed on SI units throughout.
If you are keen to acquire the basic skills of mathematics in this book, I offer the following advice. Do not read it like you may read a novel in which you can skim and still enj oy the book and have a good grasp of the story and plot. To grasp mathematics you must examine the detail of every word and symbol. Have a pen, a calculator, and paper at hand to try out the processes and verify them for yourself.
It is my hope that this book will be on a bookshelf in every home, and will be used by family members as a reference and guide. I am sure you will find it useful, interesting, and entertaining.