Arming yourself with math basics -- Evaluating arithmetic expressions -- Say what? Making sense of word problems -- Figuring out fractions -- Deciphering decimals -- Puzzling gut percents -- Fraction, decimal, and percent word problems -- Using variables in algebraic expressions -- X's secret identity : solving algebraic equations -- Decoding algebra word problems -- Geometry: perimeter, area, surface area, and volume -- Picture it! Graphing information -- Ten essential math concepts.

Foolish assumptions -- Where to go from here -- Chapter 1: Arming Yourself With Math Basics -- Understanding sets of numbers -- Big four operations -- Adding things up -- Take it away: subtracting -- Multiplying -- Arriving on the dot -- Speaking parenthetically -- Doing division lickety-split -- Fun and useful properties of the big four operations -- Inverse operations -- Commutative operations -- Associative operations -- Distributing to lighten the load -- Other operations: exponents, square roots, and absolute values -- Understanding exponents -- Discovering your roots -- Figuring out absolute value -- Finding factors -- Generating factors -- Finding the greatest common factor (GCF) -- Finding multiples -- Generating multiples -- Finding the least common multiple (LCM) -- Chapter 2: Evaluating Arithmetic Expressions -- Three E's: equations, expressions, and evaluations -- Equality for all: equations -- Hey, it's just an expression -- Evaluating the situation -- Putting the three E's together -- Following the order of operations -- Order of operations and the big four expressions -- Expressions with only addition and subtraction -- Expressions with only multiplication and division -- Mixed-operator expressions -- Order of operations in expressions with exponents --Order of operations in expressions with parentheses -- Big four expressions with parentheses -- Expressions with exponents and parentheses -- Expressions with parentheses raised to an exponent -- Expressions with nested parentheses -- Chapter 3: Say What? Making Sense Of Word Problems -- Handling basic word problems -- Turning word problems into word equations -- Jotting down information as word equations -- Turning more-complex statements into word equations -- Figuring out what the problem's asking -- Plugging in numbers for words -- Example: send in the clowns -- Example: our house in the middle of our street -- Solving more-challenging word problems -- When numbers get serious -- Lots of information -- Putting it all together -- Chapter 4: Figuring Out Fractions -- Reducing fractions to lowest terms -- Multiplying and dividing fractions -- Multiplying numerators and denominators straight across -- Doing a flip to divide fractions -- Adding fractions -- Finding the sum of fractions with the same denominator -- Adding fractions with different denominators -- Subtracting fractions -- Subtracting fractions with the same denominator -- Subtracting fractions with different denominators -- Working with mixed numbers -- Converting between improper fractions and mixed numbers -- Switching to an improper fraction -- Switching to a mixed number -- Multiplying and dividing mixed numbers -- Adding and subtracting mixed numbers -- Adding two mixed numbers -- Subtracting mixed numbers -- Chapter 5: Deciphering Decimals -- Performing the big four operations with decimals -- Adding decimals -- Subtracting decimals -- Multiplying decimals -- Dividing decimals -- Dealing with more zeros in the dividend -- Completing decimal division -- Converting between decimals and fractions -- Changing decimals to fractions -- Doing a basic decimal-to-fraction conversion -- Mixing numbers and reducing fractions -- Changing fractions to decimals -- Last stop: terminating decimals -- Endless ride: repeating decimals -- Chapter 6: Puzzling Out Percents -- Understanding percents greater than 100% -- Converting to and from percents, decimals, and fractions -- Going from percents to decimals -- Changing decimals into percents -- Switching from percents to fractions -- Turning fractions into percents -- Solving percent problems -- Figuring out simple percent problems -- Deciphering more-difficult percent problems -- Applying percent problems -- Identifying the three types of percent problems -- Introducing the percent circle -- Finding the ending number -- Discovering the percentage -- Tracking down the starting number -- Chapter 7: Fraction, Decimal, And Percent Word Problems -- Adding and subtracting parts of the whole -- Sharing a pizza: fractions -- Buying by the pound: decimals -- Splitting the vote: percents -- Multiplying fractions in everyday situations -- Buying less than advertised -- Computing leftovers -- Multiplying decimals and percents in word problems -- Figuring out how much money is left -- Finding out how much you started with -- Handling percent increases and decreases in word problems -- Raking in the dough: finding salary increases -- Earning interest on top of interest -- Getting a deal: calculating discounts -- Chapter 8: Using Variables In Algebraic Expressions -- Variables: X marks the spot -- Expressing yourself with algebraic expressions -- Evaluating algebraic expressions -- Coming to algebraic terms -- Making the commute: rearranging your terms -- Identifying the coefficient and variable -- Identifying similar terms -- Considering algebraic terms and the big four operations -- Adding terms --Subtracting terms -- Multiplying terms -- Dividing terms -- Simplifying algebraic expressions -- Combining similar terms -- Removing parentheses from an algebraic expression -- Drop everything: parentheses with a plus sign -- Switch signs: parentheses with a minus sign -- Distribute: parentheses with no sign -- Foil: two terms in each set of parentheses -- Chapter 9: X's Secret Identity: Solving Algebraic Equations -- Understanding algebraic equations -- Using x in equations -- Four ways to solve algebraic equations -- Eyeballing easy equations -- Rearranging slightly harder equations -- Guessing and checking equations -- Applying algebra to more-difficult equations -- Checks and balances: solving for x -- Striking a balance -- Using the balance scale to isolate x -- Rearranging equations to isolate x -- Rearranging terms on one side of an equation -- Moving terms to the other side of the equal sign -- Removing parentheses from equations -- Using cross-multiplication to remove fractions -- Chapter 10: Decoding Algebra Word Problems -- Using a five-step approach -- Declaring a variable -- Setting up the equation -- Solving the equation -- Answering the question -- Checking your work -- Choosing your variable wisely -- Solving more complex algebra problems -- Chapter 11: Geometry: Perimeter, Area, Surface Area, And Volume -- Closed encounters: understanding 2-D shapes -- Circles -- Polygons -- Adding another dimension: solid geometry -- Many faces of polyhedrons -- 3-D shapes with curves -- Measuring shapes: perimeter, area, surface area, and volume -- 2-D: measuring on the flat -- Going 'round in circles -- Measuring triangles -- Measuring squares -- Working with rectangles -- Calculating with rhombuses -- Measuring parallelograms -- Measuring trapezoids -- Spacing out: measuring in three dimensions -- Spheres -- Cubes -- Boxes (rectangular solids) -- Prisms -- Cylinders -- Pyramids and cones -- Chapter 12: Picture It! Graphing Information -- Examining three common graph styles -- Bar graph -- Pie chart -- Line graph -- Using Cartesian coordinates -- Plotting points on a Cartesian graph -- Drawing lines on a Cartesian graph -- Solving problems with a Cartesian graph -- Chapter 13: Ten Essential Math Concepts -- Playing with prime numbers -- Zero: much ado about nothing -- Delicious pi -- Equal signs and equations -- Cartesian graph -- Relying on functions -- Rational numbers -- Irrational numbers -- Real number line -- Exploring the infinite.