A good maths book (or site)

[The Tamer]

Ok,

When I read some of the formula answers on this and other forums i think "What the heck is that". Problem is, I can't do the math. I was never really good - but I’m not thick, i just didn't really apply myself . It's one thing to learn a function in Excel - but it's quite another to understand exactly what's going on.

So...

Can you recommend a good book or site for learning maths from scratch to advanced-ish? My learning style: I like a little humour - it keeps me awake; I like it broken down so it's taught to me like a kid (I prefer that the author doesn't assume that i know this or that method before he starts explaining himself) - so illustrations, metaphors, pictures etc are perfect for me.

So if you can recommend said good site or book that's not dull or all work and no play, I would be grateful for, ooh, say,,, 10 minutes? nah - I'd be really grateful.

Tamer

 

[Tom Urtis]

MathTools is an excellent site:
http://www.mathtools.net

and their Excel portal is an excellent source of information and links for Excel where many disciplines of math are concerned:
http://www.mathtools.net/Excel/

 

[PaddyD]

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?pwb=1&ean=9780312185480

...Haven't read the revised edition with new bits from Gardner, but the original was truly excellent, as you would expect from a book entitled "Calculus Made Easy: Being a Very-Simplest Introduction to Those Beautiful Methods of Reckoning Which Are Generally Called by the Terrifying Names of the Differential Calculus"

 

[rhmerrill]

Humm... for formal mathematical definitions with excellent explanations in a very well written format www.mathworld.com is great. As for simpler, and often clearer, explanations --- what kind of math you looking for? Algebra, Calculus, Probability, Satistics?