The New York Times bestseller—from the author of Math Doesn’t Suck—teaches girls how to kick pre-algebra butt
In her New York Times bestselling books, actress and math genius Danica McKellar shatters the “math nerd” stereotype and gives girls the tools to ace middle-school math in her unique, just-us-girls style. Now, in her second book, Kiss My Math, McKellar empowers a new crop of girls—seventh to ninth graders—to tackle the next level of mathematics: pre-algebra.
Stepping up not only the math but the sass and style, McKellar helps math-phobic teenagers chill out and finally “get” negative numbers, variables, absolute values, exponents, and more. As she did so effectively in Math Doesn’t Suck, McKellar uses personality quizzes, reader polls, real-life testimonials, and stories from her own life—in addition to clear instruction, helpful tips, and practice problems—revealing why pre-algebra is easier, more relevant, and more glamorous than girls think. McKellar is clearly reaching her audience: parents, teachers, and especially girls are asking for more.
Read Danica McKellar's posts on the Penguin Blog
FAQs:
How to Use This Book
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!
Kiss My Math
Acknowledgments
Kiss My What?
FAQs: How to Use This Book
Part I: Number Stuff
Chapter 1: Breath Mint, Anyone?!
Adding and Subtracting Integers (Including Negative Numbers!)
Chapter 2: The Popular Crowd
The Associative and Commutative Properties
Chapter 3: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall . . .
Multiplying and Dividing Integers (Including Negative Numbers!)
Chapter 4: A Relaxing Day at the Spa
Intro to Absolute Value
Chapter 5: Long-Distance Relationships: Are They Worth It?
Mean, Median, Mode
You Said: Most Embarrassing Moments in School!
Poll: What Guys Really Think . . . About Smart Girls
On the Cover
Quiz: Are You a Stress Case?
Part 2: Variable Stuff
Chapter 6: The Blind Date
Getting Cozy with Variables
Chapter 7: Backpack Too Heavy?
Adding and Subtracting with Variables
Chapter 8: Something Just Went "Squish"
Multiplying and Dividing with Variables
Chapter 9: Do You Like Him Like Him?
Combining Like Terms
Chapter 10: The Costume Party
The Distributive Property
Chapter 11: Didn't That Guy Say He Was Going To Call?
Using Variables to Translate Word Problems
More Than 20 Ways to Beat Stress! On the Cover
Math . . . In Jobs You Might Never Expect!
Part 3: Solving For X
Chapter 12: The Art of Gift Wrapping
Solving Equations
Chapter 13: Nope, She Never Gets Off the Phone
Word Problems and Variable Substitution
Chapter 14: Can a Guy Be Too Cute?
Intro to Solving and Graphing Inequalities
You Said: Your Horror Stories About Procrastination!
Poll: What Guys Really Think . . . About Talented Girls
Quiz: Do You Pick Truly Supportive Friends? On the Cover
Part 4: All About Exponents
Chapter 15: Champagne and Caviar
Intro to Exponents
Chapter 16: Excuse Me, Have We Met Before?
Intro to Variables with Exponents
You Said: Well . . . THAT Didn't Work!
Do You Sudoku?
Part 5: Intro to Functions and Graphing Lines
Chapter 17: Secret Sausages
Intro to Functions
Chapter 18: Creative Uses for Bubblegum
Intro to Graphing Points and Lines
A Final Word
Math Test Survival Guide!
Appendix
Answer Key
Index
About the Author
