Spiegel
1 Try taking algebra from the professor
I had Dr. Robert E. Moyer for a professor. I find it interesting that someone that can't teach the class can write a book about algebra. 90% of the people in our class got a D, and some failed it. I would think twice about purchasing this book.
2 Too brief
There is such a thing as too brief of a review. If you want tutorial help in solving problems more then the easiest, this is not the book for you.
3 Helpful, but many typographical errors
I've been using this book to brush up on (and, in some cases, learn for the first time) certain important Algebraic concepts before my Calc II class begins in the Fall. I can't yet say how well it's prepared me - but in most cases, the explanations are lucid, and examples do much of the talking quite well when the exposition is far too dry and concise.
One warning: The book's riddled with typos. No, x^2+8x<15 is not equivalent to x^2-8x+15<0; y^2=4py isn't the equation of a parabola; etc. Bear this in mind when going through the Conic Sections chapter, where - for some reason - it editing seems to have been especially bad.
4 Good, but could've been better...
I purchased this book when I enrolled in College Algebra in the hopes that it would be a good reference guide to use if I was unable to grasp the concept of a particular problem. Instead, I found that it was basically echoing what my textbook was saying. I was hoping that Schaum's Outline of College Algebra would break things down into basic explanations, but instead, I remained lost.
5 Dry, But Handy
This book offers a dry recitation of math topics, but it is a handy resource to have.
6 stereo instructions?????
Hello,
I wanted a book which would give a solid and easy to read review on college algebra. It's been many years since I've studied any algebra and after reading the reviews on this site, I thought I had found a nice tool. I was wrong, and pretty upset. Granted, this book did not cost tooo much, but I think I wasted my time in purchasing it. The book does not go into detail with many of the theories and bounces all over the place. If I find a better substitute, I will post it on this site. I do not recommend this book at all!
7 All Editions Are Not Created Equal
"The Schaum's Outline Of College Algebra" like almost all of its counterparts in this superb series of text books, provides an efficient path to mastering its subject matter.
But beware of the so called "Digital Edition" which contains only half the number of pages as the paperback edition. As a student of mine recently discovered, the digital edition does not include the numerous examples which are the heart and soul of all the Schaum's outlines.
Amazon, by listing the digital edition as simply another edition of the book the way it would list both hardback and paperback editions of a book that both contain the same text, is misleading those who think they are are loading the entire text of the original book.
I suggest that digital and non-digital versions of a book that are substantially different be presented separately or better yet, the digital version should have the complete text. Amazon has built up a deservedly good reputation of truthfully presenting its products. Why spoil it?
8 Great Book for Sudents
This book is very easy to read and understand. I loved this book and read through it in about a week. It is full of study help and of course, algebra.
9 Great Refresher
I've been away from college for 4 years and did not want to spend a lot of money and time learning the Math I needed to get into Calculus. When I went to the bookstore, what impressed me about this book was the number of solved problems and the additional supplementary(unworked) problems. Also it looked very concise. I got bogged down on some parts because I just didn't get some of the things the author was trying to say, but after I stuck at it and worked through some of the solved problems I never stayed stuck. If you want to get through Algebra fast I do highly recommend this book.
10 Schaum's College Algebra Outline
Schaum's College Outlines are the best outline/summary/worked problems series that I have every found. Readers, especially students, need to be cautioned, however, that outlines and summaries and worked problems only work usually if you use them right. For example, most students work problems before putting definitions and theorems or equations or theory onto flash cards and learning the latter four first, or they just work problems and forget flash cards for theorems and definitions. Try studying a pile of homework problems as tall as a room before an exam! Multiply this by the number of exams, both in High School (which should be using Schaum's Algebra, by the way) and college, and it spells FAILURE. Problems, even those worked out for you, only are useful AFTER you know exactly what the theorems and definitions say (with one example for each), preferably backwards and forwards and shuffled (as you can only do on flash cards). A card should only have 2 lines or less of ordinary size writing on front and 2 lines on back for rapid shuffling and reading. I'll have more to say about this in other reviews.
11 great book
recommend you to buy it if you just got into HIGH SCHOOL, else, it's useless since pretty soon half of the book will be covered
12 Good coverage of College Algebra and then some
I used the college algebra (2nd ed) outline to CLEP (college level exam program) algebra for credit. I also clepped trigonometry using the Schaum Trig outline (2ed). If you studied both outlines really hard it should be adequate preparation for college calculus. The algebra outline probably covers more than what would be covered in a college algebra course; so, you may be able to skip some of the latter chapters depending on your needs. The text also includes a very good table of contents. I have referred back to this text a few times while taking more advaced math classes. It is a very good book/study guide.
