Jacobs Geometry Third Edition Solutions Manual
Harold Jacobs writes in understandable interesting and engaging English. Basically the same type (Set II answers are in the back of the student's book). The Geometry (3rd Edition) teachers' guide includes solutions to all of the problems.
Item #: 041980 ISBN: 208 Retail: $99.99 Rainbow Price: $71.95 The full color Student Text offers a thorough study of Euclidean geometry beginning with an introduction to geometry then topics builds incrementally nature of deductive reasoning, lines & angles, congruence, inequalities, parallel lines, quadrilaterals, transformations, area, similarity, right triangle, circles, concurrence theorems, regular polygons and the circle, geometric solids, and non-Euclidean Geometries. Each chapter ends with review and a midterm and final review. For every lesson, there are three sets of exercises all three practice the concepts presented, but the third set may offer a bit more challenge. Each exercise assumes knowledge gained in previous lessons in order to construct proofs. An appendix containing a glossary, all presented theorems, postulates, and formulas, and selected answers to exercises is most helpful.
Item #: 047522 ISBN: 037 Retail: $24.95 Rainbow Price: $24.75 A non-technical book that explains math from counting to calculus. Topics build on one another, providing the reader with a complete overview of mathematics. This book is divided into three sections- elementary (numbers, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, percentages, negative numbers, exponents, pre-algebra), intermediate (solving one algebraic equation, solving a system of equations, word problems, functions, graphing, geometry, measurement of geometric figures, trigonometry), and advanced (logarithms, complex numbers, finding geometry, using algebra, introducing calculus, the derivative, the integral).
Third Edition Georgetown
This is not a text, but a discussion that includes numerous worked examples. For parents, students, or anyone who wants to understand math. Also useful as a comprehensive math reference. It does no good to have a text without practice of the concepts. Students read the content found in the main text 'Understanding Mathematics,' then complete the corresponding section in the solutions (companion) guide. The first half of the guide offers hints, examples, explanations, exercises, and problems for practice. Each chapter's content builds on the previous chapter, and initial problems incorporate the new concept presented in the main text and more challenging problems with multiple concepts by the end of the chapter.
The second half of the book gives the solutions for all of the problems in the book. A 20-question chapter summary concludes each chapter. The text along with the solutions guide provide extra practice in specific skill areas, allow students to work ahead of their curriculum for an added challenge, or can be used for a comprehensive review before taking a standardized test. Item #: 046238 Retail: $130.00 Rainbow Price: $112.95 Jacobs' math courses Elementary Algebra and Geometry: Seeing, Doing, Understanding are known for their clear explanations and strong, college-prep math.
However, they've lacked the depth of teacher support (complete solutions manuals and teaching videos) available for other courses, making them less user-friendly for homeschoolers. Callahan series ends that!
Each set of DVDs provides approximately 12 hours of lesson lectures that parallel the respective texts. Concepts are illustrated and problems (similar to those in the text) are worked on a white or black board behind the lecturer. There is an occasional use of illustrative videos which provides a break from the teaching environment.
Solutions for assignment problems are not worked on the DVDs. The general feel of these DVDs is unscripted and casual rather than slickly professional.
Dale Callahan is the instructor for the Geometry DVDs. The Algebra course is taught by Cassidy Callahan. In addition to the support offered to confused students by the DVDs themselves, there is more. Both courses are supported online via email answers (askdrcallahan.com) and the website also has a support page that answers common questions and is constantly expanding. One interesting aspect of the Geometry DVDs is the parallel that is drawn with logic arguments which occasionally include examples of biblical apologetics. Some basic equipment is required to complete the geometry constructions in that course. We'll be adding a set soon that includes this equipment: a compass, 6' ruler, 180 degree protractor, 45 degree triangle, 60 degree triangle, automatic pencil, eraser and spare leads.
Both DVD sets include a Teacher's Guide that includes a course syllabus, a test grading guide and grade sheets (either in printed, bound form or as pdf files that can be printed at home). The Geometry material provides an alternate testing option utilizing problems from the text, making the test book optional. Janice. Item #: 047186 ISBN: 249 Retail: $64.95 Rainbow Price: $59.95 Another uncluttered, fresh-looking math course from author Christy Walters. Again, I love that the book is addressed to the student, has plenty of workspace for problem-solving, and uses a no-nonsense approach. There is nothing 'cute' here; just a direct, front-on approach to learning math.
If you are not familiar with the Algebra courses, PLEASE READ description of Algebra: A Fresh Approach, as all of the same applies here. If you have used the Algebra I course above, you will equally enjoy Geometry. In the Geometry book, I like that she begins with a mini logic course (much like Jacobs).
Instead of waiting until introducing geometric theorems to have the student begin doing proofs, she immediately introduces them in the context of what the student already knows (using algebraic principles). In this way, proofs are not a 'new' thing used to prove just geometry theorems, but are familiar to the student as an extension and organization of logical thought.
Although non-Euclidean geometry is an interesting topic in the Jacobs book, your math-reluctant student will appreciate not having to deal with such abstract concepts here. For a more complete idea of the scope and sequence of this course (and other geometry courses, for comparison), please visit our website to view the table of contents. The thirteen chapters are broken into parts (lessons) with direct instruction followed by problems. Again, I like the self-discovery incorporated into the exercises as well as the short-answer questions, which require the student to put principles into words.
The last part of each chapter is a mixed review including material from previous sections and chapters of the book. While the book is thick (730 pages before the answers to odd-problems section), the larger typeset font is easy on the eye and the less bulky text per page helps the instruction seem less intimidating and overwhelming. Since this book is intended for use between Algebra I and Algebra II, there is an Appendix devoted to a review of algebraic concepts.
This is a great mini-refresher course and I am glad to see it all in one place at the end of the book rather than parceled out in the middle of the geometry course. I found the latter approach to be unnecessarily distracting in the Jacobs book. Another notable feature of this series is the ability to work directly in the book or to photocopy the student problem pages rather than recopying the problems and working on a separate sheet of paper. In the geometry course, this goes a step further in the inclusion of blank coordinate graphs on problems that require them.
I really like this math series and would recommend it to any student, but particularly for children who seem confused by other math courses and for children who are working grade-levels ahead. It is a good text for the easily-distracted and math-phobic student as well – who needs to see things organized clearly and appreciates the less-cluttered feel of the text. If your child has had difficulty using other math programs, don't throw in the towel until you've tried 'A Fresh Approach'.
From the beginning of time man has hated math. Fortunately, that was a long time ago and we have Harold Jacobs now.
Harold Jacobs' premise is that everyone is a born mathemetician, and that, provided the proper instruction, anyone can do well in math. His texts appeal to students at all stages of mathematical competence due to their literate presentation of material, engaging illustrations and comics (including Peanuts, B.C., and the New Yorker), and comprehensive problem sets designed to reinforce and contextualize key concepts.
Jacobs promotes creativity in learning, and his books are creative and even exciting. The Elementary Algebra text has frequently been compared to the Saxon math curriculum for high school students. Both are incremental in approach (introducing concepts a little at a time and reintroducing them later as parts of larger wholes) and both emphasize constant review so that building-block principles aren't forgotten as students progress into more complex territory. However, Jacobs' text is far more engaging with its use of meaningful illustrations and references to culture, literature and art. It is also better written; whereas Saxon tends to write in a breathless, choppy style, Jacobs' prose is clear and to-the-point.
Geometry follows the same general pattern of Elementary Algebra, but offers more supplementary information. The author describes it as a 'museum in a book' because of all the historical and cultural references to the various uses of geometry. It's also more colorfully illustrated than the other books, with photographs of famous artwork and architecture illustrating different concepts. There is more information in the teacher's manual than in either of the others, though full step by step solutions are not included. We don't think of this as a huge problem, since the point of geometrical proofs is proving them, and this can be done in many different ways. Elementary Algebra and Geometry were meant for high schoolers (grades 9 and 10), although older students have found them useful, especially those who've struggled with math. A third text, Mathematics: A Human Endeavor (subtitled A Book for Those Who Think They Don't Like the Subject) is aimed at a less focused audience.
Now out of print, this is meant as a follow-up to the other two books, but could also be used for remedial college students who need to be re-introduced to general math concepts. The three books form a loose trilogy of some of the finest math textbooks available. How Do These Work? Each level consists of a student text, teacher's guide, and book of test masters. (Overhead transparencies are also available on CD-ROM for the classroom setting, but due to their cost we don't currently stock them.) The teacher's guides contain all the answers to the problem sets as well as suggestions for presenting the material, although Jacobs encourages teachers to find their own ways of teaching and to be creative. The books are broken up into chapters focused on specific topics. These chapters are further broken down into lessons containing text which introduce and explain the topic and include a series of problem sets. Algebra has four sets: the first is review; Sets 2 and 3 relate to the lesson; and Set 4 is a special math or logic puzzle for advanced students who need more challenge.
Geometry only has 3 sets: only Set 2 covers the specific lesson. Answers to Set 2 are always included in the back of the student text; answers to the other sets are in the teacher's guide. In some instances, the text leaves it up to the student to understand aspects of a principle through intuition. Jacobs heavily encourages deductive reasoning, and presents several opportunities to put it to use. While this may seem daunting to the beginner, the course is designed to help students improve their reasoning and logic skills, thus preparing them to encounter such problems. To the uninitiated, however, there will appear to be certain gaps in some of the lessons. Elementary Algebra aims at student competency, providing a solid framework of skills and concepts from which to move on to more advanced math.
Geometry is Euclidean in approach and nearly exhaustive in scope—Jacobs criticizes other curriculums (like Saxon) for failing to devote an entire text to geometry. Mathematics: A Human Endeavor is much broader, providing more basic information and filling in gaps. Together they provide an excellent, consistent overview of high school math. Jacobs designed his books for use in a classroom setting. Teacher involvement and instruction is expected, and so too is a measure of teacher competency in the subject matter; unlike other curricula, the teacher's guides are not exhaustive references. However, the student texts are comprehensive enough that students can work through them on their own.
Solo work might not yield as full an understanding as teacher-led efforts, but there is enough content to at least generate competency if not mastery. Our Honest Opinion: There really aren't much better math curriculums for upper-level work than Harold Jacobs'. The texts are engaging but not overly visual—there is plenty of content, and the pictures and cartoons are often used as illustrations for key ideas. Topics are easily referenced later on due to the logical structure of the books and obvious chapter and lesson breaks. The student texts are excellent. Concise and witty, they present complex and difficult ideas in a way most students can understand.
The teacher's guides from the original publisher (Freeman) leave more to be desired, offering minimal support for teachers, only rudimentary lesson plans, and no solutions manual. Callahan and his daughter Cassidy Cash have come to the rescue with video supplements, additional teaching aids and a solutions manual for Elementary Algebra. This helps us to highly recommend these books for high school (home school) students. The current publisher, Master Books, continues to improve these tools for the home education market. If you're looking for a curriculum that will make your kids sick of math this probably isn't the one you want. Many parents report that, after switching to Harold Jacobs, their kids did a lot better in math and started to actually enjoy it.
Even professional mathematicians and math teachers offer glowing reviews, and as far as we can tell this is definitely a curriculum that deserves high marks. Hollis Crossman C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur.Read more of his reviews.