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x PREFACE
help you to lessen or eliminate the physical and mental symptoms of math
anxiety. Part 3 explains how to succeed in mathematics by using correct study
skills. You can read this section before starting the course or any time there-
after.
It is suggested that you donotuse a calculator since a calculator is only a
tool, and there is a tendency to think that if a person can press the right
buttons and get the correct answer, then the personunderstandsthe concepts.
This is far from the truth!
Finally, I would like to answer the age-old question, ‘‘Why do I have to
learn this stuff?’’ There are several reasons. First, mathematics is used in
many academic fields. If you cannot do mathematics, you severely limit
your choices of an academic major. Secondly, you may be required to take
a standardized test for a job, degree, or graduate school. Most of these tests
have a mathematics section. Finally, a working knowledge of arithmetic will
go a long way to help you to solve mathematical problems that you encoun-
ter in everyday life. I hope this book will help you to learn mathematics.
Best wishes on your success!ALLANG. BLUMANAcknowledgments
I would like to thank my wife, Betty Claire, for helping me with this project,
and I wish to express my gratitude to my editor, Judy Bass, and to Carrie
Green for their assistance in the publication of this book.Copyright © 200 4 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Click here for terms of use.