Long suppressed childhood memories flooded my consciousness as I watched the opening volume Essentials of Algebra and encountered forgotten phrases such as "the Y intercept" and "solve for X" that recalled the hell on Earth known as "Algebra I" (and II). Designed to serve as either an introduction or refresher for pre-college algebra, this exceptionally comprehensive 22-hour series is set up just like a classroom (minus the spitballs): instructor Dana Mosely, armed with chalk and a blackboard, guides viewers through the arcane mysteries of the subject, from the various classes of numbers to the slippery beast called "probability." Although the programs includes a few animated graphics sequences to demonstrate particular concepts (and segments using a graphing calculator), the primary mode is straightforward blackboard instruction delivered in professional no-nonsense fashion. The 10 tapes in the series are: Concepts of Elementary Algebra; Introduction to Equations and Inequalities; Linear Functions, Equations, and Inequalities; Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities; Rational Expressions and Rational Functions; Radicals and Complex Numbers; Additional Functions and Relations; Exponential and Logarithmic Functions; and Additional Topics in Algebra. a supplementary text--which is not required to follow the video instruction--Intermediate Algebra: Graphs and Functions is also available for an additional $40.Math for All offers an interesting premise: for 8 half-hour episodes young kids might like to sit around with their Moms and Dads and...uh...learn math. Heh-heh-heh. Actually, with some of the nifty games presented by host Hanne Bauer, it might not be so farfetched. We watched the fifth part in the series Measure for Measure, which was about--you guessed it--measurements, and featured Bauer and a young assistant learning about "doubling" and "tripling" (for instance, if you double the size of the piece of yarn which fits around a child's wrist you'll have a piece which should fit around his neck), "estimating" (by seeing how many scoops of rice or beans fill up a container), and weight (by arranging paper bags from lightest to heaviest). Although the episode was not terribly exciting--children will have to be drawn in by natural curiosity, not special effect bells and whistles--it did offer parents some interesting ideas for getting their pre- and early elementary school children thinking about basic mathematical concepts. The other titles in the series are: Unmasking Math, Guessing, Patterns, Numbers, Time and Money, Taking a Chance, and Shapes in Space. The two-tape compilation at $69.95 is a pretty good deal.Essentials of Algebra is recommended for libraries with larger math collections. Math for All is recommended for general collections. (R. Pitman)
Essentials Of Algebra; Math For All
(1993) 10 videocassettes, approx. 150 min. each. $495 for the entire set. Chalk Dust Productions. PPR. Color cover. Vol. 9, Issue 1
Essentials Of Algebra; Math For All
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