How to Succeed in College Mathematics is a unique and valuable resource book, written for the college undergraduate mathematics student. It also serves as a helpful resource for preservice and inservice college and high school mathematics instructors.

How to Succeed in College Mathematics does not discuss learning mathematics in isolation from other college-life issues bearing on college students. Most things in the lives of college students are connected—

when one thing in a student’s life is affected, it usually is the case that other things are positively or negatively affected. For example, working too many hours on a paid job, carrying too many difficult courses, or inappropriately scheduling course meeting times, typically has a negative effect on success in mathematics.

Thus, the author, Richard M. Dahlke, addresses throughout the book what it means to be a college student, in addition to what it means to be a college mathematics student. The book can also be described as a book on “learning how to learn,” and therefore will benefit students in any course they are taking, mathematics or otherwise. Courses should be enjoyed, and that joy comes from understanding their content, which results when sound learning principles are applied.

The focus of the book is on being successful in mathematics, which means much more than receiving a good course grade. Low to high achieving students can learn what their mathematics deficiencies are, and how to overcome them. The book does not attempt to teach mathematics itself, although many mathematics examples are given in conveying how to learn mathematics. The problems with students’ achievement in mathematics have everything to do with how they go about their learning.

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A wealth of information is on this website to help you decide if you want to buy this book or recommend it to others. If you can find a better resource book for mathematics students (and instructors), buy it, and let us know about it. Because right now there is simply nothing comparable out there.

Begin to search this site by clicking BACK COVER, and then click on the other links on the first line of the website toolbar. The “Look Inside” link provides access to 56 pages of the book. Then return to this page to get answers to the four important questions below.