This was the question:

Where should I start?

I am 45 years old and have been out of school for quite awhile. Math has never been my best subject. I am taking prerequisites for my Associate Degree in Communications, and I don't understand any math from fractions to pre-algebra. Where should I start? I am afraid that if I didn't get it in jr high school, I will never get in in college. Can you help me?Are there any good books on math which aren't so intimidating?

Thank you very much.

Professor Homunculus' answer:

Thanks for the question.
I also started with math late in life. I got into it by learning mathematical magic tricks. Which shows that you have to develop an intereste in the fun side of mathematics.

The key to math is to UNDERSTAND and LIKE it, not just to learn some stuff you intend to forget at the first opportunity (as happened with both of us after we finished with school).

One of the most important things I ever learned is that textbooks suck. Really.
Fortunately, there are really cool books in any large bookstore (and some small ones) in the math section. Lots of them are inexpensive paperbacks. Dover Publications has some of the best ones.

A book like Playing with Infinity by Rosza Peter (Dover Books) will make math fun and interesting for you. As soon as it becomes interesting and non-threatening, you can try some textbooks. Better yet, look through the math section of your bookstore or library, and find one which catches your interest. Puzzle books and recreational math books are great.

Playing with Infinity is a good way to begin. You can order it from this site by clicking here.Or check out recreational math books at your library.

Of course, you should keep coming back to the Math Mojo site to find new lessons and downloads, too!

Hope this helped,

Professor Homunculus

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