Synopses & Reviews
Easy to understand, filled with relevant applications, and focused on helping students develop problem-solving skills, BEGINNING ALGEBRA is unparalleled in its ability to engage students in mathematics and prepare them for higher-level courses. Gustafson and Frisk's accessible style combines with drill problems, detailed examples, and careful explanations to help students overcome any mathematics anxiety. Their proven five-step problem-solving strategy helps break each problem down into manageable segments: analyze the problem, form an equation, solve the equation, state the conclusion, and check the result. Examples and problems use real-life data to make the text more relevant to students and to show how mathematics is used in a wide variety of vocations. Plus, the text features plentiful real-world application problems that help build the strong mathematical foundation necessary for students to feel confident in applying their newly acquired skills in further mathematics courses, at home or on the job.
Review
". . . clear and thorough examples."
Synopsis
Get the grade you want in algebra with Gustafson and Frisk's BEGINNING ALGEBRA! Written with you in mind, the authors provide clear, no-nonsense explanations that will help you learn difficult concepts with ease. Prepare for exams with numerous resources located online and throughout the text such as online tutoring, Chapter Summaries, Self-Checks, Getting Ready exercises, and Vocabulary and Concept problems. Use this text, and you'll learn solid mathematical skills that will help you both in future mathematical courses and in real life!
About the Author
R. David Gustafson is Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Rock Valley College in Illinois and has also taught extensively at Rockford College and Beloit College. He is coauthor of several best-selling mathematics textbooks, including Gustafson/Frisk/Hughes, College Algebra, Gustafson/Karr/Massey's Beginning Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, Beginning and Intermediate Algebra: A Combined Approach, and the Tussy/Gustafson and Tussy/Gustafson/Koenig developmental mathematics series. His numerous professional honors include Rock Valley Teacher of the Year and Rockford's Outstanding Educator of the Year. He has been very active in AMATYC as a Midwest Vice-president and has been President of IMACC, AMATYC's Illinois affiliate. He earned a Master of Arts from Rockford College in Illinois, as well as a Master of Science from Northern Illinois University.
Table of Contents
1. REAL NUMBERS AND THEIR BASIC PROPERTIES. Real Numbers and Their Graphs. Fractions. Exponents and Order of Operations. Adding and Subtracting Real Numbers. Multiplying and Dividing Real Numbers. Algebraic Expressions. Properties of Real Numbers. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 1 Test. 2. EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES. Solving Basic Equations. Solving More Equations. Simplifying Expressions to Solve Equations. Introduction to Problem Solving. Motion and Mixture Problems. Formulas. Solving Inequalities. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 2 Test. Cumulative Review Exercises. 3. GRAPHING, WRITING EQUATIONS OF LINES; VARIATION. The Rectangular Coordinate System. Graphing Linear Equations. Slope of a Non-Vertical Line. Point-Slope Form. Slope-Intersect Form. Functions. Variation. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 3 Test. 4. POLYNOMIALS. Natural-Number Exponents. Zero and Negative-Integer Exponents. Scientific Notation. Polynomials. Adding and Subtracting Polynomials. Multiplying Polynomials. Dividing Polynomials by Monomials. Dividing Polynomials by Polynomials. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 4 Test. Cumulative Review Exercises. 5. FACTORING POLYNOMIALS. Factoring Out the Greatest Common Factor; Factoring by Grouping. Factoring the Difference of Two Squares. Factoring Trinomials with Lead Coefficients of 1. Factoring General Trinomials. Factoring the Sum and Difference of Two Cubes. Summary of Factoring Techniques. Solving Equations by Factoring. Problem Solving. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 5 Test. 6. PROPORTIONS AND RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS. Simplifying Rational Expressions. Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions. Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions. Complex Fractions. Solving Equations that Contain Rational Expressions. Applications of Equations that Contain Rational Expressions. Ratios. Proportions and Similar Triangles. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 6 Test. Cumulative Review Exercises. 7. SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES. Solving Systems of Equations by Graphing. Solving Systems of Equations by Substitution. Solving Systems of Equations by Addition. Applications of Systems of Equations. Systems of Linear Inequalities. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 7 Test. 8. ROOTS AND RADICAL EXPRESSIONS. Square Roots and the Pythagorean Theorem. Nth Roots and Radicands that Contain Variables. Simplifying Radical Expressions. Adding and Subtracting Radical Expressions. Multiplying and Dividing Radical Expressions. Solving Equations Containing Radicals; The Distance Formula. Rational Exponents. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 8 Test. Cumulative Review Exercises. 9. QUADRATIC EQUATIONS AND GRAPHING QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS. Quadratic Equations. Completing the Square. The Quadratic Formula. Graphing Quadratic Functions. Complex Numbers. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 9 Test. APPENDICES. Sample Final Examination. Powers and Roots. Answers to Selected Exercises.