[dnr]

No relation to the link, but does anyone else remember these books?

Algebra the Easy Way - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6781.Algebra_the_Easy_Wa...

Trigonometry the Easy Way - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2077099.Trigonometry_the...

Calculus the Easy Way - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3074478-calculus-the-eas...

I read these in 5th grade or so and learned most of middle school and high school math just from those.

They're written as a fantasy novel in which the characters discover the relevant math concepts as part of the story. I know, you're thinking that's a silly gimmick and it can't possibly be any good, but it was actually done quite well. At least until the later parts of Calculus where the situations have to get pretty contrived.

Highly recommended, at least for precocious kids who like math and fantasy novels.

[furyofantares]

Oh wow, after 20 some years of not finding anyone else who had read these, and not remembering the name, I'd begun to think I had imagined them.

[wyclif]

When I was in HS, I wish my school had used books like Serge Lang's or even Gelfand instead the terrible textbooks we were forced to use. I ended up needing to use Saxon Math to review, which was better because it always builds on previous skills instead of moving on to the next topic and never revisiting what you've already learned again.

[ghancock]

I remember those too. Fun and I learned a lot from them. I also recommend them.

[macintux]

I really hoped the trig book would help me get over my mental block, but it still didn’t work. There’s something about Trigonometry that just befuddles me.

Still, a good book.

[oceanghost]

Have you seen the animation about how sin/cos/tangent are derived? I was absolutely befuddled by trig although I was able to do it by learning rules, until I saw that thing.

Just in case you haven't:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_zReGTxdlQ

[photojosh]

Any idea where the block lies? I feel like I love trig and just don't get enough opportunities to use it, so am happy to have a conversation about it.

[chris_wot]

I found that the Humungous Book of Trigonometry Problems actually cleared it all up for me.

[agentwiggles]

I used the Humongous Book of Calculus Problems in college. Drilling tons of problems was incredibly helpful.