INTRODUCTION TO REAL ESTATE MATH
Math is a part of the real estate profession, as it is of most careers. The amount of math and the complexity of the math will vary, depending on the area of real estate chosen. Today, we have calculators and computers that are great time-savers, but we still need to have a good basic knowledge of math. It is a matter of taking the math concepts we were taught in school and adapting them to the real estate profession.

People react differently to the word math. Some people like math. Some people are comfortable with math. Some people, though, are uncomfortable with math and become very anxious and stressed when they encounter numbers. If you're that kind of person, you will find the approach taken here very comfortable and helpful. Even if you're someone who's comfortable working with numbers, this clear and simple review will reinforce what you know—and maybe teach you a few tricks and shortcuts, too.

This chapter covers the basics of real estate math to prepare you for those real-world situations you will encounter as well as the math problems you will be most likely to find on your real estate licensing examination.

Study, review, and practice will help you overcome stress and anxiety so you can become comfortable with math. Each time you review and practice your real estate math, you will find that your confidence and ability will increase.

USING THIS CHAPTER AS A MATH REVIEW
This brief chapter on math is designed to provide you with a quick check of your math knowledge and to help you reinforce what you already know. It's organized in a way that makes it easy for you to look up just the information you need, and the subject matter is presented in as straightforward a manner as we could think of, with a minimum of wordy explanations and a maximum of quick tips, examples, formulas, memory aids, and shortcuts to help you overcome any remaining "math phobias."

Divided into sections, this chapter is organized into the following five general subject areas:
1) Calculators
2) Fractions
3) Percentages
4) Measurement
5) Proration

Within each general subject heading are a series of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and brief, clear explanations. If you read the Math FAQs in this chapter through from start to finish, you'll get a good, general review of real estate math principles. You also can use the Math FAQs for last-minute review of difficult issues or even as a memory-jogger in your daily real estate practice. Simply check Math FAQs Table of Contents in each chapter to see if your question is listed: if it is, go directly to that page. If your question is more complicated or fact-specific, you may have to look at several different items to find your answer. Either way, you'll probably find it here.

► SPECIAL FEATURES
Throughout the text you will find Math Tips that offer insight into the trickier aspects of real estate math in general and the real estate exam's math content in particular. The For Example feature applies formulas and concepts to practical situations to show how the concept works in the real world. A generous collection of practice problems at the end of the review gives you the opportunity to apply your understanding in an exam-style context, and the simple T -Bar method is offered as a shortcut that's both easy to understand and easy to apply.

We hope this math review helps you master real estate math. Good luck!