Can anyone recommend me a good algebra book?

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on recommendations for self-study algebra books for individuals with a basic understanding of math. The Schaum's Outline series is suggested for review, but not ideal for beginners due to its terse explanations. For foundational learning, basic algebra texts or precalculus books by authors such as Stewart and Swokowski are recommended. Additionally, resources like Harold Jacobs' "Elementary Algebra" are highlighted as effective for those needing a refresher.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of arithmetic concepts
  • Familiarity with algebraic terminology
  • Knowledge of precalculus fundamentals
  • Ability to evaluate book reviews for educational materials
NEXT STEPS
  • Research "Elementary Algebra by Harold Jacobs" for foundational concepts
  • Explore "Precalculus" texts by Stewart and Swokowski for advanced preparation
  • Investigate the Schaum's Outline series for review techniques
  • Look for free public domain algebra resources online
USEFUL FOR

Individuals seeking to improve their algebra skills, self-learners, and those preparing for calculus will benefit from this discussion.

homeylova223
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I am not sure where to post this so sorry if I posted in the wrong forum.

But my question is I took algebra 1 and 2 at high school but I forgot most it and my level of understanding in math is probably at the arithmetic level. Can anyone recommend me a good book for learning Algebra one for self study because I want to teach myself.
 
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Alright I'll try those.
 
The Schaum's books are good for review, but IMO not as good for learning from scratch, because they are extremely terse (which is what you want when reviewing).

I'd recommend a basic algebra text if you think you have truly forgotten everything, or a precalculus text if you just feel shaky. The only precalc texts I'm personally familiar with are those by Stewart and Swokowski, and both are good. But you might go to Amazon and search for algebra and/or precalc texts, and just read the reviews. Every book seems to have a few people who don't like it for some reason, but try to find reviews from people who sound like they have the same concerns as you do, and see which books they rate highly.

Be sure you are looking at BASIC algebra books; some advanced algebra books don't show it in their title. Look through the table of contents, and if you see topics like rings or fields, it's not what you want.

And don't spend much money on texts. You can find plenty of free, public domain materials on the net, or if you prefer a book you can hold, an old used edition will work just as well as a brand new one.
 
Elementary Algebra by Harold Jacobs has been very helpful to me.
 

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