Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I: Reviewing Basic Math for Business and Real Estate Transactions 7

Chapter 1: Starting from the Beginning 9

Chapter 2: Fractions, Decimals, and Percents 15

Chapter 3: Determining Percent Increase and Decrease 31

Chapter 4: Dealing with Proportions and Basic Algebra 37

Part II: Taking Intriguing Math to Work 47

Chapter 5: Working with Formulas 49

Chapter 6: Reading Graphs and Charts 67

Chapter 7: Measuring the World around You 79

Chapter 8: Analyzing Data and Statistics 97

Part III: Discovering the Math of Finance and Investments 109

Chapter 9: Computing Simple and Compound Interest 111

Chapter 10: Investing in the Future 131

Chapter 11: Understanding and Managing Investments 149

Chapter 12: Using Loans and Credit to Make Purchases 165

Part IV: Putting Math to Use in Banking and Payroll 177

Chapter 13: Managing Simple Bank Accounts 179

Chapter 14: Protecting Against Risk with Insurance 193

Chapter 15: Planning for Success with Budgets 207

Chapter 16: Dealing with Payroll 223

Part V: Successfully Handling the Math Used in the World of Goods and Services 235

Chapter 17: Pricing with Markups and Discounts 237

Chapter 18: Calculating Profit, Revenue, and Cost 251

Chapter 19: Accounting for Overhead and Depreciation 273

Chapter 20: Keeping Track of Inventory 291

Part VI: Surviving the Math for Business Facilities and Operations 305

Chapter 21: Measuring Properties 307

Chapter 22: Taking Out Mortgages and Property-Related Loans 335

Part VII: The Part of Tens 359

Chapter 23: Ten Tips for Leasing and Managing Rental Property 361

Chapter 24: Ten Things to Watch Out for When Reading Financial Reports 369

Index 373

About the Author

Mary Jane Sterling is the author of four other For Dummies titles: Algebra For Dummies, Algebra II For Dummies, Trigonometry For Dummies, and Math Word Problems For Dummies. She has honed her math-explaining skills during her years of teaching mathematics at all levels: junior high school, high school, and college. She has been teaching at Bradley University, in Peoria, Illinois, for almost 30 of those years.
When not teaching or writing, Mary Jane keeps busy by working with her Kiwanis Club, advising Bradley University’s Circle K Club, and working with members of the Heart of Illinois Aktion Club (for adults with disabilities). All the volunteer projects taken on for these clubs help keep her busy and involved in the community.