Technical Math For Dummies

Technical Math For Dummies
About the Authors
Dedications
Authors’ Acknowledgments
Contents at a Glance
Table of Contents
Introduction
About This Book
Conventions Used in This Book
What You’re Not to Read
Foolish Assumptions
How This Book Is Organized
Icons Used in This Book
Where to Go from Here
Part I: Basic Math, Basic Tools
Chapter 1: Math that Works as Hard as You Do
Discovering the Benefits of a Technical Math Book
The Basics Are Basically Basic
Meeting Measurement and Conversions and Studying Story Problem Strategies
Using Workhorse Math
Building Your Knowledge of the Branches of Math
Life Math Isn’t Classroom Math
Chapter 2: Discovering Technical Math and the Tools of the Trades
Busting Myths about Math
Remember: Somebody Else Already Did the Hard Work
The Trades, They Are A-Changing
Math Devices That Can Help You Do Your Job
Chapter 3: Zero to One and Beyond
Looking at the Numbers that Count: Natural Numbers
Going Backward: Negative Numbers
Getting Between the Integers: Fractions, Decimals, and More
Taking a Look at the Lesser-Known Numbers
Handling Numerical Story Problems
Chapter 4: Easy Come, Easy Go: Addition and Subtraction
Making Everything Add Up
Subtraction: Just Another Kind of Addition
Example: Flour Power
Example: Sheep on Trucking
Chapter 5: Multiplication and Division: Everybody Needs Them
Go Forth and Multiply!
Doing Simple Multiplication Like Your Grandfather Did It
Easy Street: Multiplying by 0, 1, and 10
Divide and Conquer
Example: In the Machine Shop
Chapter 6: Measurement and Conversion
Main (And Not So Main) Systems of Measurement
Converting Length, Weight, and Volume
Example: Don’t Get Bored by Board Feet
Example: Getting the Dosage Right
Chapter 7: Slaying the Story Problem Dragon
Removing the Mystery from Story Problems
The Step-by-Step Story Problem Solution
Example: Furring Strips
Example: And Now, from the Banks of the Nile
Part II: Making Non-Basic Math Simple and Easy
Chapter 8: Fun with Fractions
Meeting the Numerator and Denominator: Best Friends Forever
Tackling the Different Types of Fractions
Performing Math Operations with Fractions
Example: Dividing and Selling a Cheesecake
Example: Cutting Fire Stops for Framing Carpentry
Chapter 9: Decimals: They Have Their Place
Diving into Decimal Basics
The Four Ops: Working with Decimals in Four Math Operations
Decimal Conversion
Round, Round, Get Around, I Get Around
Making Change and Charging Sales Tax
Example: A Journey to Office Supply Heaven
Chapter 10: Playing with Percentages
Pinpointing Percentages: Half a Glass Is Still 50 Percent Full
Percentages Are Good Converts
Calculating Percentage Increases and Decreases
Dividing a Pie Using Percentages
Example: The World of Pralines
Example: Oily to Bed and Oily to Rise
Chapter 11: Tackling Exponents and Square Roots
Exponentiation: The Power of Powers
Getting Back to Your (Square) Roots
Example: Finding the Bytes On a Disk
Part III: Basic Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry
Chapter 12: Algebra and the Mystery of X
Variables: Letters Represent Numbers, but the Math Is the Same
Variable Relationships: X and Her Friends
Math Operations with Variables
Example: How Many Oranges Are in that Orange Juice?
Example: Medications In the Pillbox
Chapter 13: Formulas (Secret and Otherwise)
Following the Formula for Building a Formula
Working from a Formula to a Solution
Calculating Speed, Time, and Distance: Three Results from One Formula
Example: Cement Masonry — Pouring City Sidewalks
Example: Lunch Time — Buying Burgers and Fries
Chapter 14: Quick-and-Easy Geometry: The Compressed Version
Looking at Geometry’s Basic Parts
Examining Simple Geometric Shapes
Learn It Once and Forget It: The Pythagorean Theorem
Example: Don’t Fence Me In
Example: The Pen Is Mightier Than the Paddock
Chapter 15: Calculating Areas, Perimeters, and Volumes
Area: All That Space in the Middle
Perimeters: Along the Edges
Volume: The Third Dimension
Example: Bore and Stroke for the Auto Guy
Example: Yard Area, the Landscaper’s Nightmare
Chapter 16: Trigonometry, the “Mystery Math”
Handling Triangles: More Angles than a Cornfield Maze
By Their Sines Shall Ye Know Them: Using Trigonometric Functions
Example: Surveying a River
Example: Locating a Wildfire
Part IV: Math for the Business of Your Work
Chapter 17: Graphs Are Novel and Charts Are Off the Chart
Defining Charts and Graphs and Their Advantages
Paying Tables Their Proper Respect
Introducing the Three Most Important Types of Charts
Reading Charts and Graphs (And Recognizing a Bad One)
Making Charts and Graphs
Example: Tracking Weight and Height in a Pediatric Practice
Example: Cost of Materials in Residential Construction
Chapter 18: Hold on a Second: Time Math
Dividing Time into Hours, Minutes, and Seconds
There’s a Time for Us, Somewhere a Time for Us: Time Notation Systems
Converting Time
Time Math: Calculating Time
Example: The Timesheet for All Trades
Example: Microwave Magic
Chapter 19: Math for Computer Techs and Users
Try a Bit of This Byte: Understanding Basic Computer Terms
The Sum of the (Computer) Parts, and the Numbers Involved
Example: Total Capacity of a Mass Storage System
Part V: The Part of Tens
Chapter 20: Ten Tips for Solving Any Math Problem
Figure Out Exactly What the Problem Asks For
List the Facts
Convert Supplied Information into Needed Information
Determine What Information You’re Missing
Eliminate Excess Information
Draw a Diagram
Find or Develop a Formula
Consult a Reference
Pay Attention to Units
Check Your Answer to See whether It’s Reasonable
Chapter 21: Ten Formulas You’ll Use Most Often
Area of a Square, Rectangle, or Triangle
Area of a Circle
Feet to Meters and Inches to Centimeters
Miles to Kilometers and Kilometers to Miles
Pounds to Kilograms and Ounces to Grams
Gallons to Liters and Liters to Gallons
Temperature Conversions
Hours to Minutes and Minutes to Hours
Distance, Time, and Speed
Volts, Amps, and Watts
Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Avoid Everyday Math Stress
Get Help with Your Checkbook
Use Grocery Shopping to Build Confidence
Practice Reading Analog Clocks
Play Games
Memorize Math Signs, Symbols, and Formulas
Make the Multiplication Table a Mantra
Use Paper Maps and Practice Navigating
Try to Estimate Distances
Take Up Music
Integrate Math with Nonmath Skills
Glossary
Index