Publisher's Synopsis
In spite of popular belief, arithmetic is not a difficult subject. In Anyone Can Do Arithmetic, Brian Fletcher leads parents and pupils toward a better understanding of the key concepts needed to get by in maths. The book opens with a brief explanation of the need for numbers, their development over time and why we have our present system of numbers. The book then moves on to the four basic processes of arithmetic; adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. Whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, negative numbers and mixed numbers each have their own chapter in which the rules developed by reasoning will help readers to reach alternative ways of performing calculations. These chapters also look at useful methods for checking the correctness of answers. Further chapters show how to deal with recurring decimals and switching between fractions, decimals and percentages. Prime numbers and factors are examined and it's explained how they can make adding and subtracting fractions simpler. The chapter on accuracy and approximations is, arguably, the most important part of the book. A short look at alternative number systems follows with a more detailed look at binary arithmetic - used in computers - which is the simplest arithmetic you will ever find. Finally there is an introduction to algebra to show that this is not so difficult either! Anyone can do Arithmetic allows parents to grasp the basics of maths to assist their children with homework, it will be the answer to many parents' prayers!
