<p>What's a really good in-depth collegiate Mathematics book that covers everything up to Calculus? Like one that covers Algebra, Geometry and pretty much everything before Calculus. I'd like to have a book like this for review and for future reference.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Such a book really wouldn't be collegiate - it's somewhat assumed you have basic (high school, not to be mistaken with college) algebra, geometry, etc. As far as a good book - most precalculus textbooks are perfectly fine, although I highly doubt you will ever use this. If you're the one to want to have a reference book like this at least to me says you're decently good with math or enjoy it, which means you'll focus on actually interesting challenging problems and not elementary things.</p>
<p>Well what's a pretty good reference book that introduces all of the basic stuff? I seriously want to master all of the basic stuff so that I don't have any problems with stuff that requires knowledge the basic stuff later on. Oh and so that I may do so well on the GRE when I take it later on.</p>
<p>it's really not necessary. i just google whatever stuff i happen to forget, and most of the time, u won't use it at all</p>
<p>If I remember correctly, I got like 600 on the Math portion of the SAT. Does that mean that I'll probably struggle as a Computer Science major if I don't get my basic math skills up?</p>
<p>Don't buy a text. But if you want good references, get the Schaum's outlines. They are cheap, have lots of solved problems, and if you are a good at self-learning, they can even serve as text books. (I never took trig but taught myself with the Schaum's outline of trig)</p>
<p>To get you started, here's the Schaum's</a> outline of precalc. Only $11. So even if you think it sucks (I don't), it's not a huge risk. :D</p>
<p>Just to make sure, Pre-Calculus pretty much covers everything before Calculus right?</p>
<p>Everything except algebra and comprehensive trig.</p>
<p>Basically, you need to know algebra before you can plow through a pre-calc text. Most pre-calc books will not cover trig in depth, but they will give an overview. If you are a quick learner, that might be all you need. But it would be best if you also had a trig text (or Schaum's) to refer to.</p>
<p>I'll most likely like that book. Thanks.</p>
<p>If you got a 600 on the math portion, you should be alright for the intro calc classes you have to take for CS. I wouldn't even worry about buying a book.</p>
<p>I dunno... 600 is pretty low. And besides, the SAT I doesn't really even test your knowledge of mathematical topics, but rather tests how mathematically clever you are. (There are a few topical questions, I know, but nothing like the Math Level 2)</p>
<p>I would play it safe and stick to your plan of preparing yourself for the class.</p>
<p>Yeah, I guess I'll prep for the class and I'l buy that Pre-Calc outline.</p>
<p>If you know trig I wouldn't worry about it. I am assuming you did Pre-Calc in high school...</p>
<p>Yeah I did but over the span of six weeks. And I took the SAT II Math II and... I'm not even going to post the score, hahahaha. I'll just review plain and simple.</p>