Feedback
Here are some extracts from
reviews of the first edition.
From a review in the Times Higher
Education Supplement.
This is a friendly book written in an engaging style. It is intended to be
a self-help book supporting a study of first-year undergraduate
mathematics in science and engineering. Thus it contains clear
explanations of the underlying ideas from basic algebra to complex numbers
and a first course in calculus. It also contains very full, worked solutions
to the exercises, which will greatly aid self-study.
The introduction contains wise guidance on how to study and understand
mathematics and the author's experience as a teacher comes out through her
warnings of pitfalls and common errors.
From a review in the School Science
Review
... allows students to make as much use of sections of the book as they
need ... An important feature is that, for every concept, the book returns
to basics, giving clear and entertaining explanations of the background to
maths ... this book is a fine example of its kind and I shall certainly
use it with my students in the coming year.
From the Journal of Chemical Education
This is a comprehensive math workbook for anyone who needs to refresh his
or her math skills. It is designed for individuals who have been exposed to
these math topics but need additional help on techniques and methods for
solving problems. ... The table of contents and index are very detailed
and thorough, allowing one to easily find selected math topics for review.
... This book is intended to be either a refresher workbook or a supplement
to a course. Considering the thoroughness of the explanations and solutions
to the exercises, this book is particularly useful for the practical
individual who is interested in the mechanics of solving problems. ...
The author has admirably accomplished her stated intentions.
Or here's a whole review!
My book has also been reviewed at
the Mathematical Association
of America's site. This link will take you directly to the review but
there are also other book reviews and interesting articles there.
Here also are some comments from readers
Part of an e-mail from a 1st year mature student
doing Electromechanical Engineering.
Having managed to struggle through my foundation maths, I have been
brought down to earth by my first term at Uni. Although my personal tutor
is always most helpful, being one out of 120 in a class is daunting to say
the least, especially when 95% of them have an A level. At last I have
found a maths book that I can not only understand but enjoy. You have
given me light at the end of the tunnel, thank you. For the first time
ever, I am actually looking forward to doing maths.
From an Open University student doing a maths
foundation course
I am immensely enjoying your book and I am going through it step by step
so as to give myself a good foundation.
[Then followed a query about a difficulty which I answered by e-mail.]
I am finding your book a great boon to giving me a better grasp of ideas
and concepts rather than just working from a mathematical template.
An email from a student reader
I bought your book some weeks ago and am writing to express my thanks for
such an excellent product.
I studied A-level Maths in 1986, and have recently come back to studying,
hopefully for a science degree with the Open University. Needless to say,
my maths skills needed some work and I've found that your book has been
most helpful and wonderfully written.
A comment from a maths prof.
I very much like the friendly human style - it's like a real person
talking to you.
An email from a student reader
Thank you so much for writing the maths survival guide. I am a first year
undergrad at Surrey doing Chemical Engineering. Until I discovered your
book I was failing miserably as I haven't done A level Maths. Anyway, thanks
to you I feel I am back on track and should pass the next test!
An extract from a review from a student
in Texas at www.amazon.com
This book has been written for someone who has been exposed to the subject
but did not understand it, or has not had a math class in a while. Ms Olive
has taken extra effort to help the students avoid the pitfalls often
encountered in these math topics. This attitude is reflected throughout
the book.
An extract from a student's email
Your book is definitely this student's guide to survival, though I wish I
had come across it at an earlier stage. I made the mistake of embarking
on a physics degree 4 years after having done my A levels without any
preparation at all and have spent 6 months in total confusion. This book
has not only explained all the maths sections that troubled me, but has
also restored my self-confidence and my commitment to the course. Thanks!
From somebody in the USA coming back to studying
maths for a possible career change and to further his knowledge.
Your book is the best I have encountered in the field. For years I have
searched for a good introductory math text and at last I have found it.
Believe me, I have tried a good many. Yours is the only one I am going to
finish from beginning to end.
The complete solutions are an essential element. I have followed your
advice of working to the point where I get stuck and I then view the
solution to the sticking point only. After that I usually continue to the
solution without further ado. So to anyone else who reads this, she is
absolutely right about the method. Follow it and success is assured!
From a concerned father in the USA.
My son is having a tough time of introductory calculus in first year
university, due in large part
to not mastering the essential components of high school math in an
integrated way. He has no difficulty with individual facts and methods, but
has not built them into a cohesive mental 'toolkit' in which the tools are
combined to solve problems and gain insight into how the world works.
Your book is helping to remedy this situation. It has a balance between
brevity and completeness so that it quickly gets to the essential point,
but has enough exposition to engage readers to truly apply their diverse
manners of thought to both appreciate and master the material.
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