[This] is a transitional mathematic book designed to help student move from the concrete concepts of arithmetic to the abstract concepts of algebra ... Special emphasis is given to reading numbers written in numerical form and to translating numbers from numerical form to word form ... Major emphasis is placed on the most fundamental problems of mathematics, which deals with the fractional part of a number. This problem is introduced early and practiced continually until its companion, the percent problem, is introduced. Then both problems appear regularly until the end of the book. Both problems are approached conceptually, and students are encouraged to draw diagrams of the completed problems. [The book also] allow[s] students the opportunity to master all the concepts. Application of the concepts must be practiced for a long time to ensure retention. This practice has an element of drudgery to it, but it has been demonstrated that people who are not willing to practice fundamentals often find success elusive.-Pref.