I want to teach myself Algebra and Geometry.

[LogicalAcid]

If you have not read my previous threads, you should know I am in 8th grade. For one, I have been wanting to do this for a while, but many people have said "wait until your in High school". Well what I say is, enough of that. I learn what I want to learn when I want to learn it, nothing wrong with that in the slightest. First things first, books are my favorite way of learning (second to actual one on one, which I cannot afford a tutor), so everyone has heard of Dover math books, the question is, which ones suit my needs? I'm not advanced, but not completely new either. Anyone willing to share books they find appropriate, in other words they have to have the textbook feel (give you examples and problems to do, along with teaching you first of course).

I want to learn High school freshman-sophomore algebra basically, AP or general, what ever you find fit.

 

[DanielThrice]

Hey Logical,

It's fantastic you want to learn all of this stuff, but this forum is made to teach people about concepts they find confusing, so it is best to use in conjunction with a class. The level of math in this forum goes beyond that of Analysis, which is undergraduate level mathematics, it is far beyond the Algebra II or pre-calc that you may have encountered in your middle school. If you get into high school and wish to help others or ask questions this forum would be better for you.

 

[yesterdaysjam]

I can't recommend you any books as I'm from Australia and we probably have different standards to the US (which is where I'm assuming you're from) but I stumbled across a website set up by a past nobel piece prize winner in physics. The site basically starts you from step 1 of everything which is beginner algebra and then works you through to the more advanced concepts of maths and physics.

Here's the link:
http://www.phys.uu.nl/~thooft/theorist.html"

Good on you for wanting to start so young.

 

[symbolipoint]

LogicalAcid,

Just look for a used book on Elementary Algebra, and one on Geometry - the ones that high schools would have used. No real problem using an old book. They are still as good today as they would have been when they were new, maybe 10 to 25 years ago. In general, do not try to be too skimpy on which parts of the textbook you study. Some topics may be optional but many are essential. When you finish an Elementary Algebra book, then you can go directly to an Intermediate Algebra book and continue studying this. You can learn which topics are "essential" for a course from searching for and reading a few syllabi of the courses which may be available online or directly from some schools.

Basically then, yes, you can teach yourself Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry. Used books are often just as good as new books, and are far less expensive.

 

[bpet]

While reading ahead of the high school curriculum it's good to also have a few books on recreational mathematics and math in history/culture. The sort of books that can be read anywhere in the middle and just enjoyed, but also give a different perspective on the topics you're learning (e.g. Gardner, Stewart, Kline, Hogben to name a few popular authors).

 

[Settia]

I.M. Gelfand has a collection of high school level mathematics books that I would recommend. When I was in high school I used his algebra and trigonometry book. They are very slim but great elementary mathematics books. Here is the amazon link to his Algebra book:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0817636773/?tag=pfamazon01-20

The math books published by Dover would not suit your needs most likely. They are mostly reprints of classic math books. Therefore usually about math above the high school level. There are a few high school level problem books such as, Challenging Problems in Algebra (I am not sure if that is the correct title.) but I would not recommend those when you are first learning algebra.

 

[quirmche]

I can't recommend you any books as I'm from Australia and we probably have different standards to the US (which is where I'm assuming you're from) but I stumbled across a website set up by a past nobel piece prize winner in physics. The site basically starts you from step 1 of everything which is beginner algebra and then works you through to the more advanced concepts of maths and physics.

Here's the link:
http://www.phys.uu.nl/~thooft/theorist.html"

Good on you for wanting to start so young.

Wow!

This is a great site, thanks for the recommendation!

 

[bpet]

Another option that seems quite popular at the moment: http://www.khanacademy.org/ (free for anyone with access to youtube).