Mathematics minus fear : how to make math fun and beneficial to your everyday life / Lawrence Potter.

Originally published: London : Marion Boyars, 2006.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [271]-273).

Why? -- pt. 1. Numbers in your head, figures on paper : Small steps ; How many fingers? ; Outside the supermarket ; Putting two and two together ; Go forth and multiply ; 'Countdown' ; Putting numbers to paper ; Borrowing and carrying ; Long, long multiplication ; Long division explained ; Checking it all adds up -- pt. 2. Different kinds of number : Kit-Kats and kosher ; A 'Ryche shepemaster' ; Proportion has its problems 1 ; Proportion has its problems 2 ; Colouring in pizzas ; What the Egyptians did ; Equivalent fractions ; Adding fractions on paper ; Turn it upside-down and multiply ; What is the (decimal) point? ; Manipulating decimals ; One hundred percent ; Something of interest ; Prudence is a virtue ; Two hundred percent -- pt. 3. Fear of the unknown : Algebra and broken bones ; Doing the same to both sides ; Change all the signs ; False assumptions ; The logic behind simultaneous equations ; Squabbling schoolboys ; Algebra is democracy ; The saving of Charlie -- pt. 4. Chance would be a fine thing : High expectations for probability ; It's a load of balls ; Muddy waters ; It's not all about numbers ; The weather forecast is wrong ; Back to the classroom ; Putting probability into practice ; Vegas, baby! ; The Law of Large Numbers ; Gambling with life insurance -- Appendixex : A. Dividing fractions ; B. Putting sudoku to bed ; C. Answers to puzzles.

Puzzles and humorous examples show how math is connected to the everyday world and explain how skills in this field can help with winning Monopoly, gambling in Vegas, and solving Sudoko puzzles.