ABSTRACT
A basic but sound numeracy is essential if you are going to quantify the processes occurring within an environmental system. During the introductory years of a geography or environmental science degree it is unlikely that you are going to come across many mathematical concepts that are completely new to you. The difficulty is that many people forget the mathematics they have learnt or have not had the need to apply what they know to real problems. You must always remember that mathematics is just a shorthand and concise way of explaining something that could be written out in full using plain words. The best way to overcome any problems with mathematics is to practise: it is very easy to forget even the basics when you are not using them on a day-to-day basis. Here we introduce some of the basic rules of mathematics, and some useful tips.
