Math Success Reviewer's Comments

Instantly access formulas, 33 geometry topics and comprehensive exams through Math Success Deluxe 2008, our #2 choice and the “TopTenREVIEWS Silver Award” winner.

This Topics Entertainment product includes the same geometry information as the other packages in the “Success” series and as Math Advantage 2008. However, we placed this series highest in the review because it covers math subjects ranging from addition through calculus and includes two sections of statistics. This is the best package we could find that does not require internet access and will run with any Windows program.

Although this product offers a large volume of geometry information and useful formulas, it falls behind our #1 choice, Microsoft Student, because it does not offer a wide variety of full–length explanations or homework help.

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Teaching Tools:  

Math Success’s geometry section is a series of tutorials beginning with “Basic Building Blocks of Geometry” and ending with “Loci and Symmetry.” The text instruction includes corresponding visuals and sample problem solving as well as quizzes and exams.

Our favorite section of this program is the reference section that includes an index, explanation of symbols and formulas. Through this section, you can quickly find formulas for such things as the midpoint theorem, the angle addition postulate, radius of cones and so on. Most of the reference subjects include representational graphics as well.

Topics Covered:  

This program covers all of the basic geometry concepts including angles, lines, inequalities and similarities, circles and volumes. It also offers math history information on a wide variety of subjects ranging from Pythagoras and his theorem to Ludolph Van Ceulen and his polygons.

The area lacking the most with this product pertains to logic, reasoning and proofs. Although it includes some explanations of postulates, proofs are one on the hardest geometry subjects for people to master, and we would like to see this covered better.

Ease of Use/Homework Help:  

This product is easy to use and well organized. However, Math Success is not the best homework helper. You can find formulas quickly, but there are few fully explained sample problems to help students with specific homework problems.

Our sample homework problem was to find the length of the median of a particular trapezoid. To find the answer we had to go the polygon section then to trapezoids and find the theorem for the median of a trapezoid. The program did not include a fully explained sample problem with the theorem.

Help/Documentation:  

This product includes an inter–program help section and a helpful “quick tour.” Online they post FAQs and offer an email address for technical support. The topics help desk answered our email question within a day.

Summary:  

Math Success Deluxe is the best program we could find that does not require Internet access. It covers a broad range of subjects that makes it a suitable product for junior high students or adults who want to update their math skills for their college coursework.

However, if you are looking for an excellent homework helper see Microsoft Student or if you just want a geometry game see Mighty Math Cosmic Geometry.