Algebra
Algebra: For the Enthusiastic Beginner
Volume 1:
1. Operations, fractions
2. Laws of algebra, exponents
3. Expansions, FOIL
4. Factoring, applications
5. Solving for x
6. Coordinate systems and lines
Appendix A: Geometry tools
Appendix B: Benefits of using letters
Glossary of notation
Volume 2:
7. General functions
8. Quadratic equations
9. Logs and exponentials
10. Means, sequences, and series
11. Miscellaneous topics
12. Slopes of general functions
Appendix C: Binomial coefficients
Glossary of notation (repeated)
This two-volume Algebra book is now available on Amazon! (Volume 1, Volume 2, and the series page.) Please see the sample chapters posted below.
This book is aimed at middle-school and high-school students, along with anyone else who is eager to learn some math! The two volumes together feature more than 350 exercises, all with detailed solutions. To lighten things up, there are also over 100 original math limericks! For a sampling, see Math Limericks.
In addition to serving as a class textbook/resource, this book is perfect for self-study or home schooling. Its detailed explanations emphasize the “why” behind the concepts in algebra, and there are numerous side remarks to help clarify misconceptions. It is both a serious AND a fun book! (Cover illustration by Maki Naro.)
Each volume is about 400 pages. The price for each is low: $6 Kindle, $22 Paperback, $30 Hardcover.
Sample chapters (the exercise solutions are at the end of each chapter):
- Table of contents
- Preface
- Chapter 3 (Expansions, FOIL)
- Chapter 5 (Solving for x)
- Chapter 8 (Quadratic equations)
- Chapter 10 (Means, sequences, and series)
- Appendix A (Geometry tools)
- Appendix B (Benefits of using letters)
- Corrections/typos/errata/clarifications
The two volumes should be thought of as a single book, split in two so that each one has a manageable size. If you are reading Volume 1, there is no need to have Volume 2 on hand. The cross-references to items in Volume 2 aren’t necessary for an understanding of the material in Volume 1. However, if you are reading Volume 2, then you will want to have at least the (inexpensive) Kindle version of Volume 1 on hand, because there are many cross-references to topics that you need to know for Volume 2.
Important: The Kindle version is Print Replica (a static page, like a pdf), so it’s best viewed on a computer or tablet. Print Replica files unfortunately don’t work on certain other devices.
If you think other readers will benefit from this book, please consider leaving a rating and/or review on Amazon, since more ratings make the book more visible to other readers. Thank you!
On another note, here’s an early draft of a chapter on the Pythagorean theorem that will eventually appear in a future Geometry book. (Ignore the 2025 estimated completion date mentioned in the file. It will be a few more years...)
Pythagorean theorem (draft)