Teach Yourself Visually Algebra

Algebra may seem intimidating?but it doesn't have to be. With Teach Yourself VISUALLY Algebra, you can learn algebra in a fraction of the time and without ever losing your cool. This visual guide takes advantage of color and illustrations to factor out confusion and helps you easily master the subject. You'll review the various properties of numbers, as well as how to use powers and exponents, fractions, decimals and percentages, and square and cube roots. Each chapter concludes with exercises to reinforce your skills.

David Alan Herzog is the author of numerous mathematics books and more than 100 educational software programs. He taught math education at Fairleigh Dickinson University, was mathematics coordinator for New Jersey's Rockaway Township public schools, and taught in the New York City public school system.

Chapter 1: The Basics.
Groups of Numbers.
Ways of Showing Things in Algebra.
Properties and Elements.
Exponents and Powers.
Square Roots and Cube Roots.
Zero, FOO, and Divisibility.
Chapter Practice.
Chapter 2: Signed Numbers.
Introducing Signed Numbers.
Adding Balloons and Sandbags.
Subtracting Balloons and Sandbags.
Understanding Number Lines.
Adding Signed Numbers.
Subtracting Signed Numbers.
Minus Sign before Parentheses.
Letter Carrier Stories to Illustrate Multiplication.
Multiplying Signed Numbers.
Dividing Signed Numbers.
Chapter Practice.
Chapter 3: Fractions, Decimals, and Percents.
The Concept of Fractions.
Adding and Subtracting Signed Fractions.
Multiplying and Dividing Signed Fractions.
Multiplying and Dividing Mixed Numbers.
Simplifying Complex Fractions.
Changing Decimals to Fractions.
What Are Percents?
Finding a Percent of a Number.
Understanding Scientific Notation.
Chapter Practice.
Chapter 4: Variables, Terms, and Simple Equations.
Balance Pictures.
Constants and Variables.
Coefficients and Factors.
Evaluating Expressions.
Solving One-Variable Equations.
Adding and Subtracting Variables.
Changing Repeating Decimals to Fractions.
Solving Equations Using Multiple Steps.
Multiplying and Dividing Variables.
Chapter Practice.
Chapter 5: Axioms, Ratios, Proportions, and Sets.
Axioms of Equality.
Defining and Creating Ratios.
Proportions.
Set Theory.
Chapter Practice.
Chapter 6: Monomials, Binomials, and Systems of Equations.
Monomials.
Binomials.
Creating Systems of Simultaneous Equations.
Solving Systems of Equations by Substitution.
Chapter Practice.
Chapter 7: Polynomials and Factoring.
Polynomials Investigated.
Factoring.
Chapter Practice.
Chapter 8: Cartesian Coordinates.
Philosophically Speaking.
Finding the Slope and Intercepts.
Graphing Linear Equations by Slope and Intercept.
Finding the Equation of a Line.
Writing Equations in Point-Slope Form.
Graphing Systems of Equations.
Chapter Practice.
Chapter 9: Inequalities and Absolute Value.
Introducing Inequalities.
Graphing Inequalities on a Number Line.
Solving Inequalities by Adding and Subtracting.
Solving Inequalities by Multiplying and Dividing.
Understanding Absolute Value.
Inequalities and Half-Planes.
Chapter Practice.
Chapter 10: Algebraic Fractions.
Introducing Algebraic Fractions.
Simplifying Algebraic Fractions.
Multiplying Algebraic Fractions.
Dividing Algebraic Fractions.
Adding and Subtracting Algebraic Fractions.
Chapter Practice.
Chapter 11: Roots and Radicals.
Defining Roots.
Operations with Square Roots.
Chapter Practice.
Chapter 12: Quadratic Equations.
Standard Quadratic Equation Form.
Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring.
Solving Quadratics by Completing the Square.
Solving Quadratic Equations by Formula.
Chapter Practice.
Chapter 13: Algebraic Word Problems.
Techniques for Translating Problems into Equations.
Types of Problems.
Chapter Practice.
Glossary.
Index.