Best Math Fundamental Review BOOKS

Hi everyone,

From browsing the math threads, I've repeatedly read the advice to review the basics/fundamentals of math before even touching GMAT math questions. Because of the way the GMAT is structured, if you can't tackle the easy questions, you won't even see the more difficult ones-hence the need to review the basics.

My question then is for those of us who've forgotten high school math and even the most basic math, should we use GMAT math books to refresh or would books like The Idiot's Guide to Algebra or Algebra for Dummies be more appropriate?

It seems to make more sense to use the GMAT books because these books are geared for what will actually be covered on the GMAT and the development of shortcut techniques. However, would books like The Idiot's Guide to Algebra be easier to start with? I guess another way of phrasing this question is: for someone who's weak in math, and I mean really weak, as in need to review how to add fractions weak, which books would you guys recommend? The problem with alot of refresher books out there is that they don't do a good job of explaining the concepts to the math-challenged student, and I'm worried that the GMAT books are like that.

I'm about to start The Idiot's Guide to Geometry, and I'd like to know if I'm wasting my time. Am I better off just getting a GMAT math book? If so, what' a good one that really does a good job of explaining the concepts/techniques so that even someone who's terrible at math can understand it.

In the spirit of the above question, I thought we could list the most helpful math refresher books on here for reviewing the BASICS i.e. fractions, exponents, negative numbers, basic algebra, basic geometry, etc.

:) That assumes your Math is good or you used another book, but that's correct - those are the 2 best books.

Does it answer it?

Ok my question is that I am equally weak in maths as the one who started this post and I have completely lost touch of it after school. In short I need to start right from the basics and I mean the very basics. Now I am confused because here you recommend the Kaplan GMAT workbook or the MGMAT 5 quant guides. However somewhere you have also suggested to go for 'Foundations of GMAT Math: GMAT Strategy Supplement'. So which one should I opt for for clearing my foundations? ANd after clearing my basics which other books would you recommend?

Sure.
If you want the most math coverage, get the MGMAT Math Foundations (fairly new book, came out about 6-12 months ago) plus the 5 MGMAT Math guides. Most people end up doing this.
If you are short on time, get the MGMAT Math Foundations or Kaplan Math Foundations plus the Kaplan Math workbook (i used this one)

Thanks man! Ok so for quant I have decided to go for MGMAT Math Foundations along with the 5 MGMAT quant guides since I do have a fair amount of time with me.

For verbal also I plan to use the 3 MGMAT verbal guides only. Now I am not a native English speaker. However I would like to believe that I have a good command over the English language. But I am a bit confused whether to go for any of the grammar refresher guides you have listed for non-native English speakers. I would give you an example to tell you why I am confused. I just went through about 10-12 SC question in the OG (the last questions which I assume are the toughest ones). I did get almost 80% of them right. However when I checked the grammar explanation in the answers I really didn't have much of a clue about what they were talking. In short I knew to correct the sentence without the fundamental grammar rules applied behind it. However I have heard that GMAT has certain underlying fundamentals for all its section so I am not sure whether I will always be able to get it right without properly knowing the fundamentals
So do you think the Grammar book is necessary or the 3 MGMAT verbal guides will be more than enough?

Also I would just like to get your opinion on the books and tests I have almost finalized.

Books:
- All 8 MGMAT guides
- MGMAT Math Foundations
- Kaplan Premier (Do you think I should go for this or the 8 MGMAT guides with Math Foundations is more than enough? I have heard many good reviews about it being the best book to start with and get a feel of GMAT before moving to more specialized books and I am also somewhere inclined towards it. But still what is your opinion? )

Tests:
OG Prep (2 tests)
Manhatttan 6 CATS
Kaplan tests (Only if i end up buying the premier book because I think I can get the tests only with their books)

So do you think I should add or delete anything from this list? About time, that is not an issue I have 5-6 months with me.

Secondly, I have read many people suggesting only the number properties and word translations books out of the 5 quant guides of MGMAT unlike the 3 verbal guides where mostly all of them are suggested. Excuse me if I sound naive but how should one cover the rest of the topics in quant then?