It doesn’t have to take 12 years to learn math! The best books are in the Learn Math Fast System; the only self study math books you will need (all ages: 6-adult).
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Learn Math Fast System
Recommended age: 6 years – adult.
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Why use Learn Math Fast for adults?
If you are needing an accelerated program, Learn Math Fast can be completed in just one year if necessary. If you are an adult who knows their math skills are not up to scratch or you are wanting the mathematics education you never had, this is the self-studying mathematics method you need. Whether you are a young adult not long out of high school or somewhat older, Learn Math Fast will get you to college level math fast in order for you to confidently sit any college placement test. The Learn Math Fast System takes you from basic addition and subtraction, right through to advanced mathematics in preparation for any undergraduate degree, even if you choose a mathematics major. You can either begin at book one and undertake an accelerated program through to book seven, or take the placement test to ascertain your starting point if you feel you do not need to start at book one.
If you are a parent and you want to brush up on your math skills in order to teach your child well, this is the system that will build quickly on your mathematics knowledge in an easy structured approach. This is the best way to gain skills fast.
Why use Learn Math Fast for kids?
Believe me! After 18 years of homeschooling 6 children, I have tried my hand at many math curriculums and online courses. I was always frustrated at the way lessons seemed to be dragged out over a long period of time and yet even with the amount of repetition, sometimes the learning still wasn’t retained. Did this mean they needed even more lessons, more worksheets, more repetition or was there a better way?
J. K. Mergens has published the program she personally used to take her own son through his homeschool years. After realising he could not multiply even though they were using what she thought was a quality curriculum, Mergens created her own successful method that prepared her son for his undergraduate courses. Her son entered college at age 16 and graduated with his first degree at age 18. After also gaining work as a math tutor to undergraduate level students from the public high schools, he is now a structural engineer with three degrees. If your teen is needing an accelerated program, Learn Math Fast can be completed in just one year if necessary.
I wish I had saved the time and money I spent on fancy curriculums and that I had found Learn Math Fast years ago when my older children were younger.
What I personally love about it and why it has made my life SO much easier:
First – I love the unencumbered life. Give me a great book and a cuppa and I’m good. The point is, I get overwhelmed with too much stuff (excluding beautiful books and coffee 🥰) and having tried many curriculums with lots of components for 6 children, it is easy to get bogged down very quickly and then give up on the whole lot because the amount of work and the pace is not sustainable. Learn Math Fast (LMF) solves this problem. You get one book! Yay! There is no need for separate teacher guides, solution manuals or answer keys as it is self guided with all the worked solutions in the back of each book. You get one book for each of the 7 levels and that is it. Overwhelm annihilated!
Second – I did okay at math in high school, not great. It was my strongest subject in primary (elementary) school and up until grade 7, I was typically top of the class in a battle for top spot with one of my besties (Hi Christina 🙋‍♀️). As I progressed through high school, I gradually lost interest in math as I failed to see the relevance to my future life and I am sad to say, I really didn’t reach my potential. While I had a solid foundation, my high school maths wasn’t as strong as it should have been. Yes, we may have the ability to go back through lessons and work it out given time but when your child is in the middle of a unit, they (and you) do not have time for their parent to be trying to navigate lessons that they are in the middle of, decades after said parent last studied it.
Because LMF is self-directed with worked solutions, this takes the pressure off of parents, should your child get stuck in the middle of a unit. You do not need to go back through a series of videos, answers with no worked solutions or worse yet, questions that are different to what has been taught in the video.
If you as a parent have a solid math foundation and are confident that you have strong math skills right though all levels of high school math, you could probably use any math curriculum to teach your child and be able to jump in and help them at any point along the way. If like many parents though you do not have as strong a foundation as you wish or maybe you once did but it has been many years or even decades since you last studied these concepts, you may struggle with a math program that does not have the same support as LMF.
So many math curriculums do not have worked solutions to the problems. They often have just the answer and if your child encounters some difficult problems after working independently, it may be frustrating to try to step in and help them, only to find that the answer alone is given with no solutions. I would also find with some curriculums, that even when I did go back through the lessons in order to relearn a concept myself, the questions asked in the worksheets and tests did not always line up with the lesson. The questions would go beyond what was taught, leaving my child feeling like they were “dumb” and that they were the problem. This is not OK. Math by nature is incremental and must build on itself. The author J. K. Mergens does an excellent job of progressing through each math topic in small, incremental steps.
Mergens outlines how to use the system with children of all ages, whether they are just getting started at 6 years of age or are a struggling older student without a solid math foundation. While it is designed to be self-teaching, I recommend (at least initially) doing this alongside your child so you know what they are learning and are able to guide as needed. Some children desire to work independently and this is fine once they are ready but don’t push your child to work independently before they are ready. If you have several children and you are wanting to transition to LMF, I recommend just starting with the oldest child first to get them on their way and in order for you to become familiar with the program.
You will likely work at a faster pace with an older child so this will give them a good start. Once they are working well, you can then introduce the next child down when ready but remember that you will likely need to work at a much slower pace with a younger child. An older child who is doing a review of concepts learned in the past may be capable of working through several lessons in one day while a younger child may need several days or even weeks to work on one lesson. This is good and it is what makes this program unique. Even taking their time and consolidating their learning, a young child will still likely move through the system at a much faster rate than they would with a typical school curriculum.
Take it slowly, especially for their first year. This is not a race. As LMF has the capability of an accelerated program built into it, you can always speed things up down the track if your child is ready. If you push them before they are ready, it may have the opposite effect and they could start to struggle because you have moved too quickly through some lessons.
If you have an older child needing a remedial program but who you think may push back against starting at the beginning, emphasise that you will be moving through the volumes very fast as this is an accelerated program. There are no grade levels indicated on the books so this another plus. Just let them know that everyone regardless of age starts at book one. Motivate them with a challenge by letting them know that they will actually be able to show off their speed by seeing how fast they can get through the timed speed tests in the first volume. Remind them that if it is all too easy, you will whiz through the first 2 volumes in a matter of months and be on to volumes 3 and 4 in a short space of time. If they do struggle at any point in volumes 1 and 2, this can serve as a reminder to them that maybe they do have some gaps in their learning or things they do not remember and these are the places they need to slow down a little in order to consolidate their learning.
If you intend to use the program with only one child, they can write directly in the book or you can print out the worksheets and tests completely free from the website along with extra supplemental worksheets and review sheets. If you plan on using it with more than one child, again you can print out all the worksheets and tests plus supplemental worksheets for each volume for free from the website. How good is that? No having to keep buying extra workbooks for each child. If you have a large family, this is one of the most economical math curriculums you could buy.
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Getting Started with Volume 1
These are my number one book recommendations for a one size fits all, all ages math program. Being the simplest and best maths program we have used, there are no bells and whistles with Learn Math Fast and no fancy videos or graphics. It is just pure mathematics; well set-out, sequential, easy to read, large-font learning. While only 7 volumes compared to 12 or more in a typical school program, these comprehensive books are full of all the math you need to prepare for college.
As the author of this book, J. K. Mergens starts with an introduction and advice for how to start LMF with different age children based on what you are wanting to achieve and what pace you are wanting to use. There is no need to juggle different books as volume 1, now in its second edition is completely self-contained. Apart from a separate answer card for the timed oral tests in the first half of volume 1, all the answers are in the back of the book. Volume 1 is the best resource for consolidation of math facts. In the first half of volume 1, you will read through each lesson, complete the math problems and worksheets and often there will be a timed oral test too for fast recall of math facts.
This first volume moves very quickly so an older child or adult who has memorised most of their math facts may be able to move through this volume in a matter of months or even weeks if they are very motivated and will be ready to move on to the second volume, now in its 3rd edition.
If beginning this volume with a younger child, you will work at a much slower pace maybe even taking several weeks for each lesson as they memorise their facts for the first time. It is recommended that your child be able to read and write numbers, be able to count to 100 and have an understanding of 2+1 before they start with volume 1. Don’t rush it. The entirety of volume 1 is comparable to grades 1-3. Because volume 1 can move at a fast pace if you want it to, you have plenty of time to build mathematical knowledge for a younger child. The more “ready” they are, the more they will enjoy and benefit from LMF and you will soon have your third grader ready to move on to fractions and percentages and more advanced problem solving.
If they are not yet ready to start with volume 1, keep reading them lots of math picture books and playing math themed games such as dice games, dominoes, board games, and pattern blocks in order for them to assimilate early mathematical concepts. Take opportunities in your every day to count, measure and sort so your child can make natural connections with daily encounters and relate what is in volume 1 to real world application.
Learning Challenges
While Mergens did not write the books with special needs in mind, she has plenty of testimonials on her website from tutors and parents who now only use Learn Math Fast with their special needs students. Students who struggle to learn because of challenges associated with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia, have found success with LMF as a result of the clear text and plain English. This makes learning abstract concepts less of a challenge so they are able to keep progressing without getting bogged down so easily. Read testimonies here.
Bonuses
- Extra worksheets and tests (password required)
- Once you purchase a book or books from the LMF System, you will be issued with a password that allows you access to all the worksheets and tests from the books if you need extra copies as well as extra worksheets with a good number of exercises for extra practice should they need it.
- Placement Test
- While it is highly recommended that everyone, regardless of age start at the first volume, if you really feel that you do not need a review of foundational math concepts, you can access the free placement test on the website in order to determine which volume may be the best starting point for you or your child.
- Articles
- There is a also a good range of articles on the website with great advice for parents about how to teach math, homeschooling, fidgety children and lots more. Choose articles from the Tell Me More and Homeschooling dropdown menus on the Home Page.
- FAQ
- Visit the Learn Math Fast FAQs page if you have any more questions.
Whatever decisions you make for you or your child, may you be blessed as you discover the beauty and logic of mathematics.
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The Books
Here is a list of the best math books (LMF System) and contents for each volume as listed on their website:
Here are the 7 volumes in the Learn Math Fast System:
Volume 1: Math Facts (Comparable to grades 1-3)
Table of Contents:
Adding and Subtracting up to 5
Adding and Subtracting up to 6
Adding and Subtracting up to 7
Adding and Subtracting up to 8
Adding and Subtracting up to 9
Adding and Subtracting up to 10
Adding and Subtracting the same number
Chapter 1 Review Test
Adding numbers larger than 10
Adding small numbers in your mind
Subtracting small numbers in your mind
Adding and Subtracting Double Digit Numbers
Adding and Subtracting by 10’s
Adding Double Digits
Adding Several Double Digit Numbers
Place Value up to the One Hundred’s Column
Subtracting
Borrowing in Subtraction Problems
Borrowing with Zeros
Chapter 2 Review Test
Multiplication and Division
Multiplying by 0, 1, and 2
Multiplying by 3
Multiplying by 4
Multiplying by 5
Multiplication is the Opposite of Division (Division)
Multiplication, Factors and Products (Division)
Multiplying and Dividing by 6
Multiplying and Dividing by 7
Multiplying and Dividing by 8
Multiplying and Dividing by 9/Using the 9’s Trick
Multiplying by 10
Multiplying by 11
Multiplying by 12
Multiplying by Hand
Multiplying Three Digit Numbers
Division
Long Division
Place Value to One Billion
Multiplying Three-Digit Numbers by Two-Digit Numbers
Greater Than, Less Than and The Decimal Point
Adding with Decimal Numbers
Multiplying with Decimal Numbers
Division with Remainders
Division with Fractional Remainders
Dividing Decimal Numbers
Dividing with Three Digit Numbers
Dividing with a Decimal Number
Rounding
The Mean (Averages)
Chapter 3 Review Test
US Measurements
Lengths
Fluid Ounce
Cups, Pints, Quarts and Gallons
Weight
Chapter 4 Review Test
Final Test
Adding and Subtracting up to 5
Adding and Subtracting up to 6
Adding and Subtracting up to 7
Adding and Subtracting up to 8
Adding and Subtracting up to 9
Adding and Subtracting up to 10
Adding and Subtracting the same number
Chapter 1 Review Test
Adding numbers larger than 10
Adding small numbers in your mind
Subtracting small numbers in your mind
Adding and Subtracting Double Digit Numbers
Adding and Subtracting by 10’s
Adding Double Digits
Adding Several Double Digit Numbers
Place Value up to the One Hundred’s Column
Subtracting
Borrowing in Subtraction Problems
Borrowing with Zeros
Chapter 2 Review Test
Multiplication and Division
Multiplying by 0, 1, and 2
Multiplying by 3
Multiplying by 4
Multiplying by 5
Multiplication is the Opposite of Division (Division)
Multiplication, Factors and Products (Division)
Multiplying and Dividing by 6
Multiplying and Dividing by 7
Multiplying and Dividing by 8
Multiplying and Dividing by 9/Using the 9’s Trick
Multiplying by 10
Multiplying by 11
Multiplying by 12
Multiplying by Hand
Multiplying Three Digit Numbers
Division
Long Division
Place Value to One Billion
Multiplying Three-Digit Numbers by Two-Digit Numbers
Greater Than, Less Than and The Decimal Point
Adding with Decimal Numbers
Multiplying with Decimal Numbers
Division with Remainders
Division with Fractional Remainders
Dividing Decimal Numbers
Dividing with Three Digit Numbers
Dividing with a Decimal Number
Rounding
The Mean (Averages)
Chapter 3 Review Test
US Measurements
Lengths
Fluid Ounce
Cups, Pints, Quarts and Gallons
Weight
Chapter 4 Review Test
Final Test
Volume 2: Fractions & Percentages (Comparable to grades 4-5)
Table of Contents:
Beginning Fractions
Adding Fractions
Equivalent Fractions
Common Denominators
Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Reducing Fractions
Greatest Common Factor (GCF)
Reading Fractions on a Ruler
Subtracting Fractions
Fraction Facts
Multiplying and Dividing Fraction
Improper Fractions and Mixed Numbers
Working with Mixed Numbers
Subtracting Mixed Numbers
Multiplying Mixed Numbers
Dividing Mixed Numbers
Cross Canceling
Chapter 1 Review Test
Decimal Numbers, Percentages and Fractions
10%, 25% and 50% of a Number
20%, 30% and 40% of a Number
Replacing Words with Math Symbols
Chapter 2 Review Test
Adding Negative Numbers
Subtracting Negative and Positive Numbers
Multiplying Negative Numbers
Dividing Negative and Positive Numbers
Chapter 3 Review Test
​Final Test
Beginning Fractions
Adding Fractions
Equivalent Fractions
Common Denominators
Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Reducing Fractions
Greatest Common Factor (GCF)
Reading Fractions on a Ruler
Subtracting Fractions
Fraction Facts
Multiplying and Dividing Fraction
Improper Fractions and Mixed Numbers
Working with Mixed Numbers
Subtracting Mixed Numbers
Multiplying Mixed Numbers
Dividing Mixed Numbers
Cross Canceling
Chapter 1 Review Test
Decimal Numbers, Percentages and Fractions
10%, 25% and 50% of a Number
20%, 30% and 40% of a Number
Replacing Words with Math Symbols
Chapter 2 Review Test
Adding Negative Numbers
Subtracting Negative and Positive Numbers
Multiplying Negative Numbers
Dividing Negative and Positive Numbers
Chapter 3 Review Test
​Final Test
Volume 3: Prealgebra (Comparable to grades 6-8)
Table of Contents:
Intro to Prealgebra
What is x?
Solve for x with Fractions
Solve for x with Multiplication
Solve for x with Negative Numbers
Solve for x with Multiplication
Solving for Negative x
Solving for x with Division
What is y?
Ratios
Working with Ratios
Proportions
Unit Conversion
Exponents
More Exponents
Square Root
Chapter 1 Review Test
Terms, Expressions and Equations
Combining Like Terms
Multiplying Terms
Math Inside of Parentheses
The Second Operation
P.E.M.D.A.S
Distributive Property of Multiplication
Solving Algebraic Equations
Solving Expressions with the Distributive Property of Multiplication
Chapter 2 Review Test
Graphs
Linear Equations
Slope of a Line
The y-intercept
Creating a Linear Equation
Slopes Review
Chapter 3 Review Test
Final Test
Intro to Prealgebra
What is x?
Solve for x with Fractions
Solve for x with Multiplication
Solve for x with Negative Numbers
Solve for x with Multiplication
Solving for Negative x
Solving for x with Division
What is y?
Ratios
Working with Ratios
Proportions
Unit Conversion
Exponents
More Exponents
Square Root
Chapter 1 Review Test
Terms, Expressions and Equations
Combining Like Terms
Multiplying Terms
Math Inside of Parentheses
The Second Operation
P.E.M.D.A.S
Distributive Property of Multiplication
Solving Algebraic Equations
Solving Expressions with the Distributive Property of Multiplication
Chapter 2 Review Test
Graphs
Linear Equations
Slope of a Line
The y-intercept
Creating a Linear Equation
Slopes Review
Chapter 3 Review Test
Final Test
Volume 4: Basic Geometry (Comparable to Grades 3-7)
Table of Contents:
Lines
Angles
Opposite Angles
Chapter 1 Review Test
The Three Special Triangles
Plane Figures
Area of a Square
Area of a Triangle
Polygons
Chapter 2 Review Test
Hypotenuse and Pythagorean Theorem
3-4-5 Triangle Secret
Chapter 3 Review Test
Diameter and Circumference
Radius and Area
Perimeter
Space Figures
Volume of a Sphere
Chapter 4 Review Test
Metric System Base Units
Kilo and Milli
Centi
Metric Abbreviations
Deci
Chapter 5 Review Test
​Final Test
Lines
Angles
Opposite Angles
Chapter 1 Review Test
The Three Special Triangles
Plane Figures
Area of a Square
Area of a Triangle
Polygons
Chapter 2 Review Test
Hypotenuse and Pythagorean Theorem
3-4-5 Triangle Secret
Chapter 3 Review Test
Diameter and Circumference
Radius and Area
Perimeter
Space Figures
Volume of a Sphere
Chapter 4 Review Test
Metric System Base Units
Kilo and Milli
Centi
Metric Abbreviations
Deci
Chapter 5 Review Test
​Final Test
Volume 5: Algebra 1 (Comparable to Grade 8+)
Table of Contents:
Algebra Lingo
Integers and Natural Numbers
Rational and Irrational Numbers
Variables and Coefficients
Terms, Like Terms and Expressions
Factors and Absolute Value
Review Test
Combining Like Terms
Simplifying Expressions
Multiplying with Exponents
Dividing with Exponents
Dividing Terms with Exponents
Dividing Expressions by a Single Term
You Can Only Cancel Factors – Not Terms
Squared and Cubed
Square Roots
Cube Roots
Square Root of a Fraction
Review Test
Laws of Addition
Laws of Multiplication
Review Test
Multiplying a Term by an Expression
Distributing a Negative Number
Multiplying a Term by a Trinomial Expression
Review Test
Factoring
Prime Numbers
Prime Factorization
Factoring out a Common Factor
Review Test
Monomial, Binomials and Trinomials
Multiplying Binomials
Multiplying with Trinomials
Factory a Quadratic
Review Test
Recognizing a Quadratic Equation
Solving for x in a Quadratic Equation
A Perfect Square
Completing the Square
The Quadratic Formula
Intro to Functions
Final Review
Final Test
Algebra Lingo
Integers and Natural Numbers
Rational and Irrational Numbers
Variables and Coefficients
Terms, Like Terms and Expressions
Factors and Absolute Value
Review Test
Combining Like Terms
Simplifying Expressions
Multiplying with Exponents
Dividing with Exponents
Dividing Terms with Exponents
Dividing Expressions by a Single Term
You Can Only Cancel Factors – Not Terms
Squared and Cubed
Square Roots
Cube Roots
Square Root of a Fraction
Review Test
Laws of Addition
Laws of Multiplication
Review Test
Multiplying a Term by an Expression
Distributing a Negative Number
Multiplying a Term by a Trinomial Expression
Review Test
Factoring
Prime Numbers
Prime Factorization
Factoring out a Common Factor
Review Test
Monomial, Binomials and Trinomials
Multiplying Binomials
Multiplying with Trinomials
Factory a Quadratic
Review Test
Recognizing a Quadratic Equation
Solving for x in a Quadratic Equation
A Perfect Square
Completing the Square
The Quadratic Formula
Intro to Functions
Final Review
Final Test
Volume 6: Algebra 2 (Comparable to Grade 9+)
Table of Contents:
Finding the Known and Unknown in a Story Problem
Distance Divided by Rate Equals Time
Distance Formula in Story Problems
Congruent Triangles
Similar Triangles
Chapter Test
Probability
Inequalities
Solution Problems
Solution Problems with two Variables
Mixture Problems
Chapter Test
Systems of equations
Graphing Linear Equations
Solving Story Problems with Systems of Equations
Quadratic Equations
Graphing a Quadratic Equation
Final Test
Finding the Known and Unknown in a Story Problem
Distance Divided by Rate Equals Time
Distance Formula in Story Problems
Congruent Triangles
Similar Triangles
Chapter Test
Probability
Inequalities
Solution Problems
Solution Problems with two Variables
Mixture Problems
Chapter Test
Systems of equations
Graphing Linear Equations
Solving Story Problems with Systems of Equations
Quadratic Equations
Graphing a Quadratic Equation
Final Test
Volume 7: High School Geometry (Comparable to Grade 9+)
Table of Contents:
Review of Basic Geometry
Supplementary, Complementary, and Vertical Angles
The Point of Geometry
Corresponding, Alternate Interior and Alternate Exterior Angles
Properties of Equality and Congruence
The Formal Proof
Chapter 1 Test
Congruent Triangles
Altitude, Medians and Bisectors of a Triangle
More about Triangles
Right Triangles with and Altitude
Opposite vs. Adjacent
Sine
Cosine
Tangent
Chapter 2 Test
Quadrilaterals
Rhombus
Rectangle
Trapezoids
Area of Three- and Four-sided Shapes
Chapter 3 Test
Interior and Exterior Angles of a Polygon
Area of a Polygon
Chapter 4 Test
Circles
Interior Angles in a Circle
Congruent Circles
Exterior Angles Intercepting Circles
Intersecting Chords in a Circle
Simplifying Radicals
Arc Length Proportion
Area of a Circle, Sector and Circle Segment
Volume
Chapter 5 Test
Final Test
Review of Basic Geometry
Supplementary, Complementary, and Vertical Angles
The Point of Geometry
Corresponding, Alternate Interior and Alternate Exterior Angles
Properties of Equality and Congruence
The Formal Proof
Chapter 1 Test
Congruent Triangles
Altitude, Medians and Bisectors of a Triangle
More about Triangles
Right Triangles with and Altitude
Opposite vs. Adjacent
Sine
Cosine
Tangent
Chapter 2 Test
Quadrilaterals
Rhombus
Rectangle
Trapezoids
Area of Three- and Four-sided Shapes
Chapter 3 Test
Interior and Exterior Angles of a Polygon
Area of a Polygon
Chapter 4 Test
Circles
Interior Angles in a Circle
Congruent Circles
Exterior Angles Intercepting Circles
Intersecting Chords in a Circle
Simplifying Radicals
Arc Length Proportion
Area of a Circle, Sector and Circle Segment
Volume
Chapter 5 Test
Final Test
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