Algebra, the easy way
by Douglas Downing · first published 1983
67% recommend33% neutral
Covers the fundamentals of algebra, including explanations of equations, negative numbers, exponents, roots, functions, graphs, and logarithms.
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…sort of approach is has been used in educational videos like some of threeblueonebrown's on youtube, and I've also seen this used as a faux historical development of algebra and high school calculus in "Algebra: the easy way", and "Calculus: the easy way", which did a great job of motivating the development of most of the ideas in those courses. I'm not familiar with similar texts for higher level mathematics (which would…
on “Learning math? Think like a cartoonist” ↗…made me interested in the content, and I think was a key factor in my growing up enjoying math rather than despising it. I had a similar experience with "Calculus the Easy Way", and its predecessors "Algebra the Easy Way" and "Trigonometry the Easy Way", all of which I'd highly recommend. They teach the topics as though being invented for the first time by a kingdom finding themselves in need of them.
on “What Would You Recommend to a Bright 14 Year Old?” ↗As a child, I greatly enjoyed "Algebra the Easy Way", "Trigonometry the Easy Way", and "Calculus the Easy Way". They present each of the subjects not as already-invented concepts that you just have to learn, but as things being invented by a fictional…
on “Ask HN: Recommend a maths book for a teenager?” ↗No relation to the link, but does anyone else remember these books? Algebra the Easy Way - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6781.Algebra_the_Easy_Wa... Trigonometry the Easy Way - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2077099.Trigonometry_the... Calculus the Easy Way - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3074478-calculus-the-eas...…
on “Calculus Made Easy (1910)” ↗