Synopses & Reviews
Algebra can be like a foreign language. But one text delivers an interpretation you can fully understand. Building a conceptual foundation in the "language of algebra," ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA, 4e provides an integrated learning process that helps you expand your reasoning abilities as it teaches you how to read, write, and think mathematically. Packed with real-life applications of math, it blends instructional approaches that include vocabulary, practice, and well-defined pedagogy with an emphasis on reasoning, modeling, communication, and technology skills. The authors' five-step problem-solving approach makes learning easy. More student-friendly than ever, the text offers a rich collection of student learning tools, including Enhanced WebAssign online learning system. With ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA, 4e, algebra makes sense!
Synopsis
Algebra can be like a foreign language, but ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA, 5E, gives you the tools and practice you need to fully understand the language of algebra and the "why" behind problem solving. Using Strategy and Why explanations in worked examples and a six-step problem solving strategy, ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA, 5E, will guide you through an integrated learning process that will expand your reasoning abilities as it teaches you how to read, write, and think mathematically. Feel confident about your skills through additional practice in the text and Enhanced WebAssign. With ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA, 5E, algebra will make sense because it is not just about the x...it's also about the WHY.
About the Author
: Alan Tussy teaches all levels of developmental mathematics at Citrus College in Glendora, CA. He has written nine math books-a paperback series and a hard-cover series. An extraordinary author, he is dedicated to his students' success, relentlessly meticulous, creative, and a visionary who maintains a keen focus on his students' greatest challenges. Alan received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Redlands and his Master of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from California State University, Los Angeles. He has taught up and down the curriculum from prealgebra to differential equations. He is currently focusing on the developmental math courses. Professor Tussy is a member of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges. 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, 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. AN INTRODUCTION TO ALGEBRA. Introducing the Language of Algebra. Fractions. The Real Numbers. Adding Real Numbers; Properties of Addition. Subtracting Real Numbers. Multiplying and Dividing Real Numbers; Multiplication and Division Properties. Exponents and Order of Operations. Algebraic Expressions. Simplifying Algebraic Expressions Using Properties of Real Numbers. Chapter Summary and Review. Chapter Test. Group Project. 2. EQUATIONS, INEQUALITIES, AND PROBLEM SOLVING. Solving Equations Using Properties of Equality. More about Solving Equations. Applications of Percent. Formulas. Problem Solving. More about Problem Solving. Solving Inequalities. Chapter Summary and Review. Chapter Test. Group Project. 3. GRAPHING LINEAR EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES IN TWO VARIABLES; FUNCTIONS. Graphing Using the Rectangular Coordinate System. Graphing Linear Equations. Intercepts. Slope and Rate of Change. Slope-Intercept Form. Point-Slope Form. Graphing Linear Inequalities. An Introduction to Functions. Chapter Summary and Review. Chapter Test. Group Project. Cumulative Review. 4. SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES. Solving Systems of Equations by Graphing. Solving Systems of Equations by Substitution. Solving Systems of Equations by Elimination (Addition). Problem Solving Using Systems of Equations. Solving Systems of Linear Inequalities. Chapter Summary and Review. Chapter Test. Group Project. Cumulative Review. 5. EXPONENTS AND POLYNOMIALS. Rules for Exponents. Zero and Negative Exponents. Scientific Notation. Polynomials. Adding and Subtracting Polynomials. Multiplying Polynomials. Special Products. Dividing Polynomials. Chapter Summary and Review. Chapter Test. Group Project. Cumulative Review. 6. FACTORING AND QUADRATIC EQUATIONS. The Greatest Common Factor; Factoring by Grouping. Factoring Trinomials of the Form x2 + bx + c. Factoring Trinomials of the Form ax2 + bx + c . Factoring Perfect-Square Trinomials and the Difference of Two Squares. Factoring the Sum and Difference of Two Cubes. A Factoring Strategy. Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring. Applications of Quadratic Equations. Chapter Summary and Review. Chapter Test. Group Project. Cumulative Review. 7. RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS AND EQUATIONS. Simplifying Rational Expressions. Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions. Adding and Subtracting with Like Denominators; Least Common Denominators. Adding and Subtracting with Unlike Denominators. Simplifying Complex Fractions. Solving Rational Equations. Problem Solving Using Rational Equations. Proportions and Similar Triangles. Variation. Chapter Summary and Review. Chapter Test. Group Project. Cumulative Review. 8. RADICAL EXPRESSIONS AND EQUATIONS. An Introduction to Square Roots. Simplifying Square Roots. Adding and Subtracting Radical Expressions. Multiplying and Dividing Radical Expressions. Solving Radical Equations. Higher-Order Roots and Rational Exponents. Chapter Summary and Review. Chapter Test. Group Project. Cumulative Review. 9. QUADRATIC EQUATIONS. Solving Quadratic Equations: The Square Root Property. Solving Quadratic Equations: Completing the Square. Solving Quadratic Equations: The Quadratic Formula. Complex Numbers (Available online at www.cengage.com/math/tussy). Graphing Quadratic Equations (Available online at www.cengage.com/math/tussy). Chapter Summary and Review. Chapter Test. Group Project. Cumulative Review. Appendix 1: Statistics. Appendix 2: Roots and Powers. Appendix 3: Answers to Selected Exercises. Index.