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Excerpt: Kiss My Math

Kiss My Math Book Cover
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What Kinds of Math Will This Book Teach Me?

The chapters of this book are filled with things like breath mints, pandas, popularity, gift wrapping, and spas. By the time you finish reading them, however, you'll be a whiz at tons of pre-algebra topics, including integers, negative numbers, absolute value, inequalities, the distributive property, working with variables, word problems, exponents, functions, graphing, and tons of ways to solve for x. Yep! In fact, these are the topics that tend to be the most confusing, and if you don't understand them now, they can cause tons of trouble later in algebra. That's right—they don't just go away. So let's clear them up now, shall we?

And just to make sure you're never confused, every single problem has an answer at the back of this book, as well as a fully worked-out solution on the "solutions" page of kissmymath.com so you can see exactly how to do them in case you get a different answer. Sort of makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, just knowing that, doesn't it? (Don't answer that.)

What's the Difference Between This Book and Your First Book, Math Doesn't Suck?

This is the next step in pre-algebra. In Math Doesn't Suck, I taught you prime numbers, factors, multiples, fractions, decimals, percents, ratios, rates, proportions, and unit conversions, and introduced you to the idea of variables and solving for x—all stuff that prepares you for what is taught in this book. This is the next step up, as you move closer to algebra. You've graduated to the next level, ladies!

Just like in my first book, I've done some of the math in my own handwriting, because I want you to feel like I'm sitting right next to you, helping you to not be confused anymore. I mean, who likes being confused?

What Should I Already Know in Order to Understand This Book?

To get the most out of this book, you'll want to have a good understanding of the topics listed above, like factors, fractions, and decimals. But, I mean, what are the chances you're a total expert on all that stuff? Everyone forgets things!

To make sure that you never feel lost, throughout the book, I've included footnotes that say stuff like, "To review such and such, see p. –– in Math Doesn't Suck," so you can quickly flip to it. If you don't own MDS, that's fine, too; there are tons of other places to review those topics (like online—just do a search for your topic). This way, though, you're totally covered!

Do I Need to Read the Book from Beginning to End?

Nope! There are a few different ways to use this book:

  • You can skip directly to the chapters that will help you with tonight's homework assignment or tomorrow's test.
  • You can skip to the math concepts that have always been problem areas to clear them up for good!
  • Or you can, in fact, read this book from beginning to end and refer back to each chapter's TAKEAWAY TIPS for quick refreshers as you need them for assignments.


Does "Kiss My Math" Mean, Um, What I Think It Does?

Well, I guess you didn't read the section four pages earlier, now, did you?

What's in This Book Besides Math?

In addition to the math I teach, look out for these fun extras, and more!

  • Personality Quizzes: Are You a Stress Case? Do You Pick Truly Supportive Friends? Find out now on p. 77 and p. 231!
  • Quotes from real teens and famous celebrities.
  • What Guys Really Think . . . About Smart Girls and other polls taken by students like you. See what everyone's saying!
  • Real-life testimonials from gals who overcame their struggles in math and are now fabulously successful women! We've got everything from a fashion buyer to a TV weather anchor. And yes, they all use math in their jobs.


Can This Book Help Me Improve My Test Scores?

Yes! In addition to clearing up any math confusion you might have, I've included a Math Test Survival Guide! at the back of the book. Taking tests is a skill unto itself, and over my many years of math classes in high school and college, I gathered tons of tricks to make the whole thing smoother.

Say good-bye to test anxiety—be sure to check it out on p. 305!

Alright, ladies—let's get started!

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Danica McKellar