Numerical ability is an essential skill for everyone studying the biological sciences but many students are frightened by the ′perceived′ difficulty of mathematics, and are nervous about applying mathematical skills in their chosen field of study. Having taught introductory maths and statistics for many years, Alan Cann understands these challenges and just how invaluable an accessible, confidence building textbook could be to the fearful student. Unable to find a book pitched at the right level, that concentrated on why numerical skills are useful to biologists, he wrote his own. The result is Maths from Scratch for Biologists , a highly instructive, informal text that explains step by step how and why you need to tackle maths within the biological sciences. Features: ∗ An accessible, jargon–busting approach to help readers master basic mathematical, statistical and data handling techniques in biology ∗ Numerous end of chapter problems to reinforce key concepts and encourage students to test their newly acquired skills through practise ∗ A handy, time–saving glossary ∗ A supplementary website with numerous problems and self–test exercises
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Numerical ability is an essential skill for everyone studying the biological sciences, but many students are frightened by the ′perceived′ difficulty of mathematics, and are nervous about applying mathematical skills in their chosen field of study. Having taught introductory maths and statistics for many years, Alan Cann understands these challenges, and is aware just how invaluable an accessible, confidence building, textbook could be to the fearful student. Unable to find a book pitched at the right level, that concentrated on why numerical skills are useful to biologists, he wrote his own. The result is Maths from Scratch for Biologists , a highly instructive, informal text that explains step by step how and why you need to tackle maths within the biological sciences. Features: An accessible, jargon–busting approach to help readers master basic mathematical, statistical and data handling techniques in biology. Numerous end of chapter problems to reinforce key concepts, and encourage students to test their newly acquired skills through practise. A handy, time saving glossary. A supplementary website with numerous problems and self–test exercises. Essential reading for all students within the biological sciences, taking core skills and numeracy courses, and an invaluable reference for those working within academia and industry.
About the Author
Alan Cann has worked in both the UK and USA, and in addition to teaching undergraduate and postgraduate biologists and medical students, he runs an active research laboratory at the University of Leicester, UK, studying the molecular biology and pathogenesis of viruses. He has been awarded numerous grants for educational research and was the inaugural winner of the Society for General Microbiology UK Wildy prize for Education in 2001.
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First Sentence
Some people opt to undertake studies in biology in the belief (conscious or unconscious) that this is a way of pursuing a scientific career while avoiding maths. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Some people opt to undertake studies in biology in the belief (conscious or unconscious) that this is a way of pursuing a scientific career while avoiding maths. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I would find it hard to recommend this book. On several occasions, I'm left wondering whether it's me or the author who has misunderstood.
For example, the author notes that always rounding numbers like 2.45 up (to 2.5) introduces statistical bias, and prefers a variant of the "round to even" method, which in this case means rounding down to 2.4. Fair enough, but he also rounds down in cases like 2.459, which he would round to 2.4, even though it's clearly closer to 2.5. I'm left wondering what the real justification for this is.
Another example: the author gives two methods of calculating percentiles; the first of these seems to assume that the distribution is perfectly flat, yet this isn't explicitly stated. Again, I'm left wondering whether it's me or the author who has misunderstood.
For example, the author notes that always rounding numbers like 2.45 up (to 2.5) introduces statistical bias, and prefers a variant of the "round to even" method, which in this case means rounding down to 2.4. Fair enough, but he also rounds down in cases like 2.459, which he would round to 2.4, even though it's clearly closer to 2.5. I'm left wondering what the real justification for this is.
Another example: the author gives two methods of calculating percentiles; the first of these seems to assume that the distribution is perfectly flat, yet this isn't explicitly stated. Again, I'm left wondering whether it's me or the author who has misunderstood.
By JessicaJ
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I hate maths.
I make so secret of it. But I love biology. So it was to my horror that we had to undertake several maths modules on my course. This book saved my backside.
I make so secret of it. But I love biology. So it was to my horror that we had to undertake several maths modules on my course. This book saved my backside.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars
2 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
A bit overwhelming for those trying to catch up to forgotten math concepts...
10 Nov 2008
By Princess Yahm Serna
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book is very good, but you have to already have reviewed those forgotten math concepts such as simple algebra and a few other things that the author purposely skipped to get to the details of the book.
Unfortunately I ended up returning it after realizing I probably need a book not only to refresh some of the concepts and formulas, but also give me more detailed exercises.
I read a few chapters but felt lost without a guide. But the book is a great reference for those already familiar with most mathematical concepts. The author does explain how to apply them very well and the examples are of good use.
Before purchasing this book, especially if you're entering the science field or starting college courses in science, make sure to get familiar with algebra, trigonometry, calculus, etc. before diving into this helpful book. Then buy it! Otherwise for those already into it, it's a very small, organized and great book that you can carry in a small purse for those who commute on public transportation.
Unfortunately I ended up returning it after realizing I probably need a book not only to refresh some of the concepts and formulas, but also give me more detailed exercises.
I read a few chapters but felt lost without a guide. But the book is a great reference for those already familiar with most mathematical concepts. The author does explain how to apply them very well and the examples are of good use.
Before purchasing this book, especially if you're entering the science field or starting college courses in science, make sure to get familiar with algebra, trigonometry, calculus, etc. before diving into this helpful book. Then buy it! Otherwise for those already into it, it's a very small, organized and great book that you can carry in a small purse for those who commute on public transportation.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
It was a gift for my daughter
24 Oct 2008
By George Winstead
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I purchased this book as a stocking stuffer for my daughter who is a psychology major and is not particularly fond of math. She tells me that the book was right-on and considerably helped her out in her labs.
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