Basic Mathematics: Teach Yourself

Basic Mathematics will teach you all the maths you need for everyday situations. If you are terrified by maths, this is the book for you. Cover......Page 1 Book title......Page 2 Contents......Page 6 Meet the author......Page 10 Only got a minute?......Page 11 Only got five minutes?......Page 13 Part one – Understanding the basics......Page 18 Is this book really for me?......Page 20 Can I succeed now if I failed at school?......Page 22 Hasn't maths changed since I was at school?......Page 23 Will it help to use a calculator?......Page 24 Can I help my child?......Page 25 Numbers, numbers everywhere......Page 28 Saying hello to your calculator......Page 31 Introducing the counting numbers......Page 32 Ordering numbers......Page 34 Tens and units......Page 35 Hundreds, thousands and beyond......Page 38 Children and numbers......Page 41 Answers to exercises for Chapter 2......Page 42 Properties of numbers......Page 44 Adding......Page 48 Subtracting......Page 53 Multiplying......Page 59 Dividing......Page 63 Knowing what sum to do......Page 67 Answers to exercises for Chapter 3......Page 72 Facing up to fractions......Page 78 What is a fraction?......Page 79 How to picture a fraction......Page 81 Fitting fractions into the number line......Page 82 What are equivalent fractions?......Page 83 Adding and subtracting fractions......Page 84 Multiplying and dividing fractions......Page 86 Ratio and proportion......Page 87 Answers to exercises for Chapter 4......Page 90 5 Decimals......Page 93 Decimal fractions......Page 94 What is the point of the decimal point?......Page 97 Using the four rules with decimals......Page 99 Dividing fractions......Page 101 An overview of decimals......Page 102 Answers to exercises for Chapter 5......Page 106 6 Percentages......Page 111 What is a percentage?......Page 112 Changing a fraction to a percentage......Page 114 Why bother with percentages?......Page 115 Calculating percentage increases and reductions......Page 117 Persistent problems with percentages......Page 122 Answers to exercises for Chapter 6......Page 125 What do we measure?......Page 130 Why do we measure?......Page 132 How do we measure?......Page 134 How accurately should we measure?......Page 136 Imperial and metric units......Page 140 Answers to exercises for Chapter 7......Page 147 8 Statistical graphs......Page 151 Barcharts and piecharts......Page 152 Scattergraphs and line graphs......Page 156 Misleading graphs......Page 161 Answers to exercises for Chapter 8......Page 165 Is algebra abstract and irrelevant?......Page 168 Algebra as shorthand......Page 170 Calculating with formulas......Page 174 Proving with algebra......Page 178 Answers to exercises for Chapter 9......Page 182 10 Puzzles, games and diversions......Page 186 1 Bus number game......Page 187 3 Guess my number......Page 188 4 Finger tables......Page 189 6 Magic squares......Page 190 8 Upside down......Page 191 10 The bells, the bells!......Page 192 11 Calculator inversions......Page 193 12 Four 4s......Page 194 15 Explore and explain the pattern......Page 195 16 1089 and all that......Page 196 18 Gold pieces......Page 197 20 Guess the number......Page 198 22 Calculator snooker......Page 199 23 Place invaders......Page 200 Answers for Chapter 10......Page 202 An overview of a spreadsheet......Page 209 Using a spreadsheet......Page 213 Number sequences on a spreadsheet......Page 219 Percentages on a spreadsheet......Page 221 What else will a spreadsheet do?......Page 223 Answers to exercises for Chapter 11......Page 224 12 Diagnostic quiz......Page 227 Quiz......Page 228 Solutions to the quiz......Page 232 Detailed comments on the solutions......Page 235 Part two – Mathematics in action (appendices)......Page 244 Appendix A: Calculating a best buy......Page 246 Appendix B: Reading the 24-hour clock......Page 250 Appendix C: Bus and railway timetables......Page 255 Appendix D: Checking the supermarket bill......Page 260 Appendix E: Understanding a shop receipt......Page 264 Appendix F: Checking the VAT......Page 267 Appendix G: Cooking with figures......Page 270 Appendix H: Buying a TV set......Page 276 Appendix I: Will it fit?......Page 279 Appendix J: Measures of alcohol......Page 282 Appendix K: Understanding barcodes......Page 287 Appendix L: Junk mail and free offers......Page 291 Appendix M: Winning on the National Lottery......Page 294 Appendix N: Safe travel......Page 301 Appendix O: World population......Page 304 Taking it further......Page 306 C......Page 310 H......Page 311 O......Page 312 R......Page 313 Z......Page 314 Does maths terrify you? Do you find yourself avoiding numbers wherever possible? This book will ensure that you gain the confidence you need to tackle maths in your daily life