Synopses & Reviews
Beginning Algebra, 1e, authored by Sherri Messersmith presents content in bite-size pieces, focusing not only on learning mathematical concepts, but also explaining the why behind those concepts. For students, learning mathematics is not just about the memorization of concepts and formulas, but it is also about the journey of learning how to problem solve. By breaking the sections down into manageable chunks, the author has identified the core places where students traditionally struggle, and then assists them in understanding that material to be successful moving forward. Proven pedagogical features, such as You Try problems after each example, reinforce a students mastery of a concept. While teaching in the classroom, Messersmith has created worksheets for each section that fall into three categories: review worksheets/basic skills, worksheets to teach new content, and worksheets to reinforce/pull together different concepts. These worksheets are a great way to both enhance instruction and to give the students more tools to be successful in studying a given topic. The author is also an extremely popular lecturer, and finds it important to be in the video series that accompany her texts. Finally, the author finds it important to not only provide quality, but also an abundant quantity of exercises and applications. The book is accompanied by numerous useful supplements, including McGraw-Hills online homework management system, MathZone as well as ALEKS.
MESSERSMITH is rigorous enough to prepare students for the next level yet easy to read and understand. The exposition is written as if a professor is teaching in a lecture to be more accessible to students. The language is mathematically sound yet easy enough for students to understand.
Synopsis
Building a Better Path To Success!
Connecting Knowledge – Sherri prepares her students for success by refreshing their knowledge of arithmetic. By helping students see the connection between arithmetic and algebra, Sherri found that her students were more confident in their abilities as they progressed through the course. This classroom tested practice was integrated into the texts so that both instructors and students could benefit. Messersmith accomplishes this by including arithmetic examples for most sections before the use of algebraic examples. Also, the author has developed through classroom use a series of Basic Skills Worksheets that can easily be integrated into the classroom.
Presenting Concepts in “Bite Size” Pieces – By breaking down the sections into manageable pieces, the author has identified the core places where students traditionally struggle and then assists them in understanding that material to be successful moving forward.
Mastering Concepts - With the textbook and Connect Math hosted by ALEKS, a new online homework and assessment tool, students can practice and master their understanding of algebraic concepts.
Messersmith is rigorous enough to prepare students for the next level yet easy to read and understand. The exposition is written as if a professor is teaching in a lecture to be more accessible to students. The language is mathematically sound yet easy enough for students to understand.
About the Author
Sherri Messersmith has been teaching at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, since 1994. She has over 25 years of experience teaching many different courses from developmental mathematics through calculus. She earned a bachelor of science degree in the teaching of mathematics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and went on to teach at the high level for two years. Sherri returned to UIUC and earned a master of science in applied mathematics and stayed on at the university to teach and coordinate large sections of undergraduate math courses. Sherri has authored several textbook, and she has also appeared in videos accompanying several McGraw-Hill texts. Sherri lives outside of Chicago with her husband, Phil, and their daughters, Alex and Cailen. In her precious free time, she likes to read, play the guitar, and travel -- the manuscripts for this and her previous books have accompanied her from Spain to Greece and many points in between.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 The Real Number System and Geometry
1.1 Review of Fractions
1.2 Exponents and Order of Operations
1.3 Geometry Review
1.4 Sets of Numbers and Absolute Value
1.5 Addition and Subtraction of Real Numbers
1.6 Multiplication and Division of Real Numbers
1.7 Algebraic Expressions and Properties of Real Numbers
Chapter 2 The Rules of Exponents
2.1 Basic Rules of Exponents
Part A The Product Rule and Power Rules
Part B Combining the Rules
2.2 Integer Exponents Bases
Part A Real-Number Bases
Part B Variable Bases
2.3 The Quotient Rule
Putting It All Together
2.4 Scientific Notation
Chapter 3 Linear Equations and Inequalities
3.1 Solving Linear Equations Part I
3.2 Solving Linear Equations Part II
3.3 Solving Linear Equations Part III
3.4 Applications of Linear Equations
3.5 Applications Involving Percentages
3.6 Geometry Applications and Solving Formulas
3.7 Applications of Linear Equations to Proportions, Money Problems, and d=rt
3.8 Solving Linear Inequalities in One Variable
Chapter 4 Linear Equations in Two Variables
4.1 Introduction to Linear Equations in Two Variables
4.2 Graphing by Plotting Points and Finding Intercepts
4.3 The Slope of a Line
4.4 The Slope-Intercept Form of a Line
4.5 Writing an Equation of a Line
4.6 Introduction to Functions
Chapter 5 Solving Systems of Linear Equations
5.1 Solving Systems by Graphing
5.2 Solving Systems by Substitution
5.3 Solving Systems by the Elimination Method
Putting It All Together
5.4 Applications of Systems of Two Equations
5.5 Linear Inequalities in Two Variables
Chapter 6 Polynomials
6.1 Review of the Rules of Exponents
6.2 Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials; Graphing
6.3 Multiplication of Polynomials
6.4 Division of Polynomials
Chapter 7 Factoring Polynomials
7.1 The Greatest Common Factor and Factoring by Grouping
7.2 Factoring Trinomials of the Form x2+bx+c
7.3 Factoring Trinomials of the Form ax2+bx+c (a¿1)
7.4 Factoring Special Trinomials and Binomials
Putting It All Together
7.5 Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring
7.6 Applications of Quadratic Equations
Chapter 8 Rational Expressions
8.1 Simplifying Rational Expressions
8.2 Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions
8.3 Finding the Least Common Denominator
8.4 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
Putting It All Together
8.5 Simplifying Complex Fractions
8.6 Solving Rational Equations
8.7 Applications of Rational Equations and Variation
Chapter 9 Radicals and Rational Exponents
9.1 Finding Roots
9.2 Simplifying Expressions Containing Radicals
9.3 Adding and Subtracting Radicals
9.4 Combining Operations on Radicals
9.5 Dividing Radicals
9.6 Solving Radical Equations
9.7 Rational Exponents
Chapter 10 Quadratic Equations
10.1 Solving Quadratic Equations Using the Square Root Property
10.2 Solving Quadratic Equations by Completing the Square
10.3 Solving Quadratic Equations Using the Quadratic Formula
Putting It All Together
10.4 Complex Numbers
10.5 Graphs of Quadratic Equations
Appendix
A.1 Mean, Median, and Mode
A.2 Systems of Linear Equations in Three Variables
A.3 Quadratic Inequalities