Book excerpt: All the math basics you'll ever need! It's not too late to learn practical math skills! You may not need to use quadratic equations very often, but math does play a large part in everyday life. On any given day, you'll need to know how long a drive will take, what to tip a waiter, how large a rug to buy, and how to calculate a discount. With The Everything Everyday Math Book, you'll get a refresher course in all the basics you need, including: Adding and subtracting fractions Understanding percentages Using ratios Finding area and perimeter You'll the learn formulas and shortcuts to help in hundreds of everyday situations, from budgeting and paying bills to shopping, redecorating, preparing taxes, and evaluating loans and other financial instruments. With this easy-to-follow guide, you'll never get stuck on a math problem again!