Advanced Maths A2 Core
These series of A2 Core textbooks in the Longman Advanced Maths series fulfil the promise of the earlier AS Core books.
They follow the same style and format as the AS books. Each chapter opens with a number of objectives that they are exactly matched to each of the exam board’s 2004 specification.
The chapters are well structured and take the student through a topic a step at a time. So, for example, in the chapter on vectors we are first introduced to the key terms and vector notation. We are then taken on to look at scalar multiplication, and the addition and subtraction of vectors – both the text and the diagrams are very clear. There are then four fully worked examples and an exercise of twenty questions, which progressively increase in difficulty. Next come position vectors and geometrical applications of vectors. Again there is a clear introduction before the four fully worked examples and a ten-question exercise. Scalar product is the next topic: an eighteen-question exercise follows a succinct introduction and eleven worked examples. The final section on the vector equation of a line has three worked examples and an eight-question exercise. The chapter concludes a fifteen-question review exercise and a two-page list of key points. There are copious amounts of practice exercises and worked examples.
The accompanying CD-ROM provides excellent support particularly for low- and high- attaining students. For each of the chapters there are extension exercises and multiple-choice ‘test yourself’ sheets – which open as pdf files. In addition there are revision exercises (two for C3 and two for C4) as well as eleven pages of extension exam questions. Best of all are three exam papers and worked solutions utilising the excellent LivePlayer software, which provides visual and aural solutions to all the questions in real-time.
This is an excellent set of textbooks and I highly recommend them. They would be accessible enough for weaker students and there are enough exercises and extension sections on the CD-ROM to stretch the most able of students.
<< AS Core books in this series reviewed
Steve Bishop, Mathematics lecturer, City of Bristol College
Advanced Maths A2 Core
John Wood, Rosemary Emanuel and Janet Crawshaw
A2 Core Mathematics for AQA
ISBN 0 582 84240 9 £16.99
A2 Core Mathematics for Edexcel
ISBN 0 58284236 0 £16.99
A2 Core Mathematics for OCR
ISBN 0 582 84234 4 £16.99
<< longman.co.ukReview Sections
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