AS and A Level Maths For Dummies

Looking to pass your AS and A level maths? Look no further. AS & A Level Maths For Dummies offers detailed, simple steps for all of the main types of problems you'll face in your exams, offering explanations of how the topics link together, advice on how to remember the key facts and methods, and ways to structure revision. Even if your head is spinning and you don't know where to begin, this fun and friendly guide gives in-depth support on exactly what you need to know.

In the big data and digital age, maths skills have never been more important to career success. AS & A Level Maths For Dummies guides you through the skills needed to pass the exams taken at the end of the first and second year of the course. It begins with the knowledge needed to get a top grade at GCSE, followed by sections on Algebra (functions, graph-sketching, and logarithms), Geometry (coordinate geometry, trigonometry, and working with shapes) and Calculus (differentiation, integration, and differential equations).

• Helps you build the confidence you need to pass your exams
• Serves as an excellent supplement to classroom learning
• Makes difficult maths concepts easy to understand
• Offers in-depth support in a fun and friendly style

If you're an AS & A level student looking to do your very best at exam time, AS & A Level Maths For Dummies makes it easier.

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started 5

Chapter 1: Moving towards Mathematical Mastery 7

Chapter 2: Setting Yourself Up for Study Success 19

Chapter 3: All the Algebra You Missed 31

Chapter 4: Shaping Up to Graphs and Shapes 53

Part II: Arithmetic and Algebra 71

Chapter 5: With Great Power Comes 73

Chapter 6: Playing with Polynomials 93

Chapter 7: Factors, Remainders and Fractions 111

Chapter 8: Getting Serious about Series 127

Chapter 9: Fiddling About with Functions 153

Part III: Geometry 177

Chapter 10: Coordinating Your Geometry 179

Chapter 11: Making Sense of Circles and Triangles 205

Chapter 12: Taking Trigonometry Further 221

Chapter 13: Making Vectors as Simple as i, j, k 245

Part IV: Calculus 269

Chapter 14: Climbing Slippery Slopes 271

Chapter 15: Touching on Tangents and Turning Points 281

Chapter 16: Integrating in Style 297

Chapter 17: When to Reach for the Rules 315

Chapter 18: Overcoming Evil Questions 339

Part V: The Part of Tens 363

Chapter 19: Ten Classic Mistakes to Avoid 365

Chapter 20: Ten Places to Start When You Don’t Know Where to Start 371

Index 377

Colin Beveridge is a full-time maths tutor. He has a gift for explaining complex concepts in a lively and fun way. Colin is the author of four For Dummies maths titles.