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1.0 out of 5 stars An overwhelming amount of writing in the book
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2022
I am feeling extremely disappointed as I spent almost $90 for a book that looks like this... This was marked "Acceptable" which I feel is misleading.
Reviews with images
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 26, 2012
After reviewing this book, I selected it for my seven-year-old son. So far he has been learning from it without any problems, and with little input from me. While he's accelerated to start with and good at picking things up, I think this shows that the book is well constructed and laid out.
As for me, I find the book exceptionally clear in its layout and introduction of new material. The problems are well-constructed and everything is nicely formatted to clearly convey the information. Instead of huge glossy pictures on every page, consistent text formatting using fonts and colors is used (there are a few pictures in sidebars, but mostly tied to challenge or enrichment sections). Exceptionally clear sample problems are given for new material, and the book shows how to work them.
My only complaint about this book, which is not severe, is that it definitely takes an approach of direct instruction for new concepts, instead of letting a student noodle through a new concept on his own. (Run a web search on "Art of Problem Solving" for an example of a curriculum that encourages deep thought and mastery by challenging students to discover mathematical principles even before a new concept is fully explained.) However, nothing prevents one from adding in extra material and using this book as a curriculum "spine".
For its exceptional clarity and good problem sets, I can't rate this book more highly. With the addition of some extra challenge work, it makes for a quite good introduction to algebra.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 2, 2021
I already had a book like this and this one was great.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 1, 2014
Richard G. Brown was a master at teaching and writing math books.
Much to my disbelief, schools/teachers try to teach algebra and precalc without using math books. Whenever I help an algebra student in that situation, I have them get this book. I help them with some problems and show them how to use/read the math book. A math book is not like reading a novel. The book is well written and very comprehensive. The explanations and examples in each section are clear and straight forward. Before long, the students I've helped are doing well, passing tests, and on a few occasions, know how to do more math than their teacher.
Mr. Brown taught math at Phillips Exeter Academy for over 30 years. I've never met Mr. Brown, but his math books are an investment in learning and in yourself.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 28, 2014
First, let me be clear: I'm not a student, but a teacher. When I look through textbooks, I'm not looking at the explanations, just an abundance of practice problems (the more, and the more varied, the better).
The 5-star review here is for the multitude of practice problems, especially word problems (which students I tutor always need additional practice with) and challenge problems (which require multiple steps and are the necessary type of higher-order-thinking and sometimes tricky-thinking that standardized tests sometimes blur the lines of).
This was far better than the Holt books I'd ordered (though clearly older and in some ways, more repetitive), but in terms of having lots of practice, and different types of both on-this-subject-only and cumulative/mixed review practice, this is exactly what I was looking for.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 24, 2017
This is the best Algebra I book ever published. It was created when the U.S. was stretching to improve its secondary math education, and it succeeded. It combines an abstract set-based approach (hence the word "structure" in the title) and computational methods (hence the word "methods" in the title. This book is best suited for use with more math-capable students, because abstract thinking is required to appreciate the set-theory side of the book, and the connections between the abstractions and the computational methods.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 1, 2018
I bought this book as a supplement for my daughter, who started algebra 1 this year. The explanations are excellent. I wish the practice problems were not scattered throughout the book, but overall this is a solid book.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 28, 2021
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 19, 2013
I ordered this as a second book for my daughter's math class (that way she could leave this book at home and another identical book in her locker, thus avoiding having to carry a heavy book to and from school each day). The book arrived in a very timely fashion and although used, it was in very good shape (very minimal/no writing or markings on the pages, all pages intact). The purchase price was fair and reasonable. Overall, I am extremely happy with this purchase!
Top reviews from other countries
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on March 16, 2022
Contains of the book great. I ordered a used book . Condition is just ok. I failed to understand why new book cost so much ?it's absurd !!
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on March 16, 2022
Contains of the book great. I ordered a used book . Condition is just ok. I failed to understand why new book cost so much ?it's absurd !!
5.0 out of 5 stars Not yet received
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 29, 2013
I ordered the book because it's excellent. I discovered it through one of my American students and intend to use it
with my English pupils. I don't think this approach is used much in the UK.
I have yet to receive the book even though it's now more than a week after the latest estimated delivery date. I've confirmed
with the seller that there are indeed delivery problems.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very GOOD.
Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on July 23, 2013
HELLO.
That's very clear book. It's like very good.
It's very late because shipping to the ship.
Thank you.
Have good day.