Humongous Book of Algebra Problems

If you're after size, these books will not disappoint. They are, indeed, humongous. So, besides doorstops, what are they good for? Why would anyone want a book with 1,000 problems in it, anyway? Here's the short answer:

Saxon isn't your native language

You need more hand-holding than your Saxon book provides when working problems

You feel that working more problems would help you improve

You want a math book with a sense of humor

You've already taken a course in this math subject, and failed

You want to review the math you took with another book

You've gone through Algebra and never heard of matrix Algebra or synthetic division

There are times when you "just don't get it" and would like an alternate instructional resource to turn to

You like friendly, more informal, books with explanatory "note bubbles" and skull-and-crossbones (signifying difficult problems) in the margins

Despite what the title reads, these are not just books of problems. They are fully instructional texts that cover all of the major topics in their strands. They just teach via problems – first a question is posed (in a gray-shaded box), then it is answered, with complete explanation. If you already know the answer, just skip that one. This makes for very efficient review. For the student intimidated by "regular" texts, these have enough "asides" in the margins to make them "marginally acceptable." A student who shuns your instruction may have an easier time learning from these than from typical math texts. Written to the user, they are totally self-study. No looking up or checking answers here! They are right with the question! Instead of teaching a concept, then supplying a set of practice problems, each question is different in some way and has its own explanation or solution. This doesn't mean there isn't practice for each concept; just that there is not repetitive practice. Though a thousand problems may seem like a lot, for comparative purposes, the Saxon Algebra book has about four times that – more if you include tests. Written by the author of some of The Complete Idiot's Guide to…. math tomes, these will drive concepts home without burning students out.