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When it comes to math, many people equate the ability to do arithmetic quickly with being “math smart.” But a calculator or an adding machine can perform mechanical functions quickly. Does this mean something with batteries is smart? Unlikely. Being math smart means understanding how math works. This book reviews some basic math functions; it will help you to do these functions and understand why they work. When you’re finished with this book, you will have a better grasp of what math means and how to get through it. A lot of people reading this may be saying, “But, the thing is, I’m not really a math person.” Little do you know, you’re more of a math person than you think!
You’re faced with math every single day. Whether it’s counting your change after buying a sandwich from the store or estimating the new price of an item that’s 25% off, you’re constantly doing math to function in everyday life. People like to think of the world, and even their brains, as split into two parts—the math and science part, and the English and history part. It doesn’t have to be that way. Being math smart doesn’t have to do with some specific kind of brain. With practice and the help of this book, you can be math smart. Believe it or not, but your brain can handle a lot of different things at once, and just because you are comfortable with one thing doesn’t mean you have to be uncomfortable with something else. Math is about patterns that exist in the world. When you see patterns in the world, you are understanding math.
You don’t have to love math, but it is a sure thing that you can do math. So sit down, grab some paper, and relax. If you get to something in this book that confuses you, simply back up and reread the information that comes before it. This book is intended to help you, not test you; you can always go back as many times as needed.
This book covers the basic underpinnings of math. It covers all the basic math found on the standardized tests you may face trying to go to college (SAT and ACT), graduate school (GRE), or business school (GMAT). There are drills throughout, with complete answers and explanations included at the end of each chapter. If there is a chapter that covers something you already feel comfortable with, feel free to only do the drill questions to make sure, and then go on to the next chapter. The first seven chapters also contain “Approximate This” quizzes for you to test your math guessing skills, as well as a list of key terms covered in the chapter. The last chapter of the book will show you how to apply your newly learned “math smart” skills to the math found on the standardize tests listed above. It’s great to be math smart, but it’s even better to be test smart.
We are one of the world’s leaders in test prep and believe in improving students grades to ultimately get higher scores on their tests. This book aims to do just that; relate everyday math to help you raise your grades and ultimately prepare for your test day. Each year we help millions of students score higher through our rigorous classroom and online courses, private tutoring, and best-selling books. Our philosophy is simple: Teach students exactly what they need to know while providing them with an experience that is truly unique and fun . And that’s exactly what we plan to do.
Enjoy!