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Need a GREAT Strategy for Math Prep!

by and1ms238 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:45 pm
Okay, so I'm looking for a more specific type of prep - ALGEBRA! Through my studies, I've noticed that Algebra is my weak point when it comes to GMAT Math. Does anyone know some great Algebra prep books?

Now, I'm not looking for high school textbooks. More so, I'm looking for a quick and dirty guide that can help refresh elementary algebra that can serve as building blocks to help me tackle advanced and more difficult algebra. Maybe a certain GMAT text that covers algebra well... or possibly another prep book that covers it well (SAT, ACT, etc...) I currently have Kaplan Premier and the algebra prep is only 9 pages! Note: my weak point in Algebra are the rules to follow... ie. I typically make a mistake here and there when it comes to manipulating equations and working with polynomials.

Thanks Guys! I knew I could count on the BTG community.
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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:07 pm
I just checked out Algebra II for dummies. I think this would give you a good base and would be better than getting another GMAT specific book
https://www.beatthegmat.com/the-retake-o ... 51414.html

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by Brian@VeritasPrep » Thu Feb 11, 2010 3:46 pm
Great thought, and1ms238 - algebra comes up pretty frequently on the GMAT these days (I'd say that at least half of the questions you see - and that's conservative - will involve algebra), and your ability to thoroughly understand those basic algebraic principles will play a key role in your success. A few things I'd like to add:

1) If you do go through a book like Algebra II For Dummies or any other Algebra-specific book, make sure that you're checking concepts against a GMAT resource so that you're not spinning your wheels studying things that aren't tested on the GMAT.

2) When you're going through the algebra theory, I think it's inordinately helpful to spend that extra few minutes to understand why each rule holds true, rather than just trying to memorize the rule. Personally, I did a lot of memorizing in junior high and high school, and never fully felt comfortable with my algebra skills until I had to know "why" enough to teach it. Now I don't worry at all whenever someone brings me a new algebra problem, because the logic is so second-nature based on that thorough understanding that I know I'll make the right moves on any problem. Believe me, it's not that much harder to understand than to memorize, and the payoff is far greater.

3) Pursuant to the above, I suggest this - when you're doing homework problems and blank on a rule, please try to logically derive that rule before you look it up in a book. If you've at least tried, you're much more likely to make the logical connection once you've looked it up than if you just looked it up in the first place and applied it. And, more often than you think, you'll be able to prove the rule to yourself without help so that it becomes something you know, and not just something you've seen.

As an example of that, let's just look at the distributive property (don't worry about the name...I just figured it deserved a title in this context):

a(b+c) = ab + ac

If you weren't sure whether or not to distribute you, could try small numbers to test the rule:

2(3+4) would be 2(7), or 14

If you distribute the multiplication, you'll get there:

2*3 + 2*4 = 6 + 8 = 14

If you didn't, you'd miss it:

2*3 + 4 = 6 + 4 = 10

If you look back at your work, you'll probably make the logical connection that, because you're doubling the sum of 3+4, you're doubling each element of it (the 3 becomes 6 and the 4 becomes 8). In doing so, you'll probably remember the rule better than you would from just having seen it, because you've had to think about why it's true.
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by and1ms238 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:12 pm
Awesome! Thanks. I can get basics like that, it's just I fumble a lot when it comes to more complicated algebraic manipulation. Does anyone know if the Manhattan GMAT series covers algebra well?
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