Construction Math's Explained
Construction Math's Explained is an ideal companion book to Construction Surveying Explained.
If you are returning to education or just need a little help with the math's then this book will be useful.
Some people find math's easy. Others, well this book will help. Jargon free it is written in plain English explaining the various processes with fully worked examples.
Formulae can be daunting and made over complicated (there's one on the cover below the title).
A5 size 180 pages.
ISBN: 978 1 9993109 1 2
Construction Math's Explained overview
This book has a bias towards the maths used by surveyors; land surveyors, quantity surveyors and civil engineers. Although much of the level 4 Maths unit has been covered in the book it is not intended as a maths book.
It is ideal for mature students who are returning to education after a long break. It doesn't take long to forget how to multiply fractions of different sizes, or how to use radians and so on. This book takes you through the processes using worked examples including graphics.
Calculators have become more like mini computers but how do you get the best out of them? The chosen calculator is a Casio fx - 85GT PLUS . It is relatively cheap to buy and more importantly cannot be programmed so it should be okay to use in most exams even at degree level.
The book shows how to set the instrument up and how to use most of the functions including multiple memory facilities.
Fully worked examples starting with the problem, selection of a suitable formula and the use of BIDMAS where applicable. The equation is written out with each stage explained. To solve the equation with the use of a calculator a series of graphics showing which buttons to press and in which order.
As mentioned earlier there is a bias towards surveying therefore the worked examples are specific to construction and civil engineering as opposed to 'Peter runs at 5mph around a circular track .....' . Fine for general maths, but this book has been written for construction and civil engineering students.
Much of the book covers the maths required for specific surveying tasks such as calculating the spoil for 'cut and fill'. There are several different formulae shown for calculating irregular areas and volumes with full explanation of each stage.
Basic trigonometry for right angled triangles taken from the basics of a circle through to how it can be used to solve various surveying related tasks. There are fully worked examples where the triangle does not have a 90° angle. It is especially useful when traversing in restricted areas such as a busy street. In each task where a calculator can be used there are fully worked examples showing the calculation as written and then which buttons to use to solve the problem.
Although the book has a bias towards surveyors it is also useful to students who will be studying Construction Science and Construction Materials. In those subjects there are calculations for such things as linear expansion and energy calc's where the exponent function will be of use. There are many examples where very large numbers and very small parts of a number are used and this book explains all.
Many people in a working environment use spreadsheets in various ways. This book shows the basics of how to set up and use a spreadsheet, plus how to set up specifically for calculating angles. Total stations and electronic theodolites use radians when transferring data to a spreadsheet. This book shows how to set up cells that automatically convert radians to degrees, degrees to Sine radians, degrees to Cosine radians and much more.
It will be very useful for anyone studying surveying, science or materials at all levels, even at degree level. It is written as a reference, somewhere to find a quick answer that is written in straightforward English. No subtended this or that, or transposed formulae without any explanation as to why.
Contents
About the author
Why yet another book about math’s?
Chapter 1 – Let’s get going
- Numbers
- Decimals
- Fractions
- Adding fractions
- How can I add fractions of different sizes?
- Subtracting fractions of different sizes
- Multiplying fractions of different sizes
- Dividing different sized fractions
- Calculators
- Setting up the calculator
- Using a calculator (Fractions and Decimals)
- Using a calculator (Whole numbers with fractions and decimals)
- How to convert decimals to fractions using a calculator
- How to convert fractions to decimals using a calculator
- Solving problems
Chapter 2 – Rules of math’s
- Brackets and BIDMAS
- Scientific notation
- Powers (Index numbers)
- Roots (Index numbers)
- Exponents
- Logarithms
- Common logarithms
- Natural logarithms
Chapter 3 – Profit margin
- Percentages
- Problems
- One number as a percentage of another
- How to calculate fractional percentages
- How to convert a fraction into a percentage
- How to convert a decimal percentage into a fraction
- Ratios and percentages
- Can a percentage be greater than 100%?
Chapter 4 – Algebra “It’s a lot of mumbo jumbo to me”
- Algebra
- Simple algebra
- Functions using algebra
- Transposition
- Formulae and set relationships
- Transposition above and below the line
- Equations involving numbers and letters
Chapter 5 – Areas
- Regular areas
- Irregular areas [Simpson’s Rule]
- Using the mid-ordinate rule
- Using the Trapezoidal Rule
- Using Simpson’s Rule
- Areas of parts of a circle
- Area of an ellipse
- Calculating the major and minor axes
- Area of a segment
- Alternative formula for area of a segment
- Other areas
- Problems involving areas
Chapter 6 – Volumes
- Calculating volumes (formulae)
- Using volumes formulae
- Accuracy v Precision
Chapter 7 – Irregular volumes
- Calculating irregular volumes
- Simpson’s prismoidal rule
- Trapezoidal Rule and Mid-ordinate rule
Chapter 8 - Right angled triangles
- Trigonometry (right angled triangles)
- Which formula should I use?
- Angle measurement
- Problem solving using trigonometry
Chapter 9 - Alternative trigonometry
- Trigonometry (non-right angled)
- Sine Rule
- Erring on an error
- Cosine Rule
- How to use the memory functions on a calculator
- Storing numbers using a memory function
- Using data stored in the memory
- Using the M+ memory
- Only clearing M+
Chapter 10 - Graphs and charts
- Graphs and charts
- Line graphs
- Line of best fit graphs
- Bar charts
- Histograms
- Pie charts
Chapter 11 - Spreadsheets
- Spreadsheets
- Preparing a spreadsheet
- Formatting a spreadsheet
- Angles and trigonometry
- Degrees to radians
- RADIANS conversion formula
- Degrees to Sine radians
- Degrees to Cosine radians
- Degrees to Tangent radians
- Spreadsheet trigonometry
- Spreadsheet chart conversion
Index
Sample Pages
Construction Math's Explained
£18.99
(Free UK delivery)
Reviews
I bought Construction Maths Explained.... [Diana Douglas 8th May 2020]
I bought Construction Maths Explained to give my grandson a start on a Construction with Surveying course which he hopes to start in September. The book is very readable, so much so that I have also bought Construction Surveying Explained. That book, too, is excellent.
I had very personal service from the author and all in all it was quite a find to discover the books.