Synopses & Reviews
Designed for first-year developmental students who need support in intermediate algebra, the Fourth Edition of Intermediate Algebra retains the hallmark features for which the Larson team is known: abundant, high-quality applications; the use of real data; the integration of visualization (figures and graphs) throughout; and extensive opportunities for self-assessment (mid-chapter quizzes, review exercises, tests, and cumulative tests). In developing supportive new features for the Fourth Edition, the authors' goal is for students to come away from the class with a firm understanding of algebra and how it functions as a modern modeling language.New! What You Should Learn orients students to each section by listing the main objectives.New! Why You Should Learn It provides a motivational explanation for learning the given objectives.New! What Did You Learn? following each chapter highlights key mathematical terms and concepts. For easy reference, Key Terms are correlated to the chapter by page number, while Key Concepts are correlated by section number.Integrated Review Exercises appear before section exercises in every section. They offer a review of skills, definitions, and problem solving from previous chapters.Skill-Building Exercises have increased in number and type. These exercises provide a broad range of computational, conceptual, and applied problems to help students master several types of skills.Exercises Keyed to Examples facilitate navigation of the text by referring students back to an example at the beginning of the section.Section Objectives are listed at the beginning of sections and at point of use throughout the chapter. Students can refer to themeasily, checking to see if they' ve mastered one objective before moving on to the next one.Revised! Definitions are clearer and Key Concepts are emphasized in boxes, allowing students to expand their math vocabulary as they progress through the chapter.Review Exercises are keyed by section and split into two categories: Reviewing Skills and Solving Problems. This allows students to see which sections they have mastered and which need more work before taking any exams or quizzes. It also lets professors assign review problems according to sections completed.Carefully graded section exercises organized into three categories include: Developing Skills, Solving Problems, and Explaining Concepts. This progression in level of difficulty gives students the opportunity to master one level of problem solving before moving on to the next.Motivating the Chapter sections in chapter opener offer real-life, multi-part problems that require students to synthesize the skills learned in the entire chapter. Students can examine the problem at the beginning of the chapter, then return to it and solve it when they' ve mastered the necessary skills. The problem is broken up into sections that are keyed to specific exercises and section sets, so instructors can assign the problem in pieces as part of a homework assignment or as collaborative work for student projects.Application problems use data from real life to demonstrate the relevance of algebra in the real world. These problems, updated to reflect current statistics and information, enable students to see where data is derived from and relate to the use of mathematics in contemporary society.Revised! Technology: Tips offerinstruction at point of use for using technology to visualize concepts, perform computations, and verify solutions.Revised! Technology: Discovery engages students in using technology to explore mathematical concepts and discover patterns and mathematical relationships.Mid-Chapter Quizzes, Chapter Tests, and Cumulative Tests provide a wide array of self-assessment tools for students to measure their progress.Discussing the Concept activities offer instructors flexible options for assigning as individual homework, collaborative work, or class discussion. In the Instructor' s Edition, many of these problems have been identified with a special icon as alternative discussion/collaborative problems.New! Eduspace is Houghton Mifflin' s online learning tool. Powered by Blackboard, Eduspace is a customizable, powerful and interactive platform that provides instructors with text-specific online courses and content. The Larson/Hostetler Intermediate Algebra course features algorithmic exercises, test bank content in question pools, an online study guide, interactive tutorials for appropriate sections and video explanations.
Synopsis
Designed for first-year developmental math students who need support in intermediate algebra, the Fourth Edition of Intermediate Algebra owes its success to the hallmark features for which the Larson team is known: learning by example, accessible writing style, emphasis on visualization, and comprehensive exercise sets. These pedagogical features are carefully coordinated to ensure that students are better able to make connections between mathematical concepts and understand the content. The new Student Support Edition continues the Larson tradition of guided learning by incorporating a comprehensive range of student success materials throughout the text. Additionally, instructors and students alike can track progress with HM Assess, a new online diagnostic assessment and remediation tool from Houghton Mifflin.
About the Author
Ron Larson received his PhD. in mathematics from the University of Colorado and has been a professor of mathematics at The Pennsylvania State University since 1970. He has pioneered the use of multimedia to enhance the learning of mathematics, having authored over 30 software titles since 1990. Dr. Larson has also conducted numerous seminars and in-service workshops for math teachers around the country about using computer technology as a teaching tool and motivational aid. His Interactive Calculus (a complete text on CD-ROM) received the 1996 Texty Award for the most innovative mathematics instructional material at the college level, and it was the first mainstream college textbook to be offered on the Internet. The Pennsylvania State University, The Behrend College Bio: Robert P. Hostetler received his Ph.D. in mathematics from The Pennsylvania State University in 1970. He has taught at Penn State for many years and has authored several calculus, precalculus, and intermediate algebra textbooks. His teaching specialties include remedial algebra, calculus, and math education, and his research interests include mathematics education and textbooks.
Table of Contents
Note: Each chapter is preceded by Motivating the Chapter, includes a Mid-Chapter Quiz, and concludes with What Did You Learn? (Chapter Summary), Review Exercises, and a Chapter Test. 1. Fundamentals of Algebra 1.1 The Real Number System 1.2 Operations with Real Numbers 1.3 Properties of Real Numbers 1.4 Algebraic Expressions 1.5 Constructing Algebraic Expressions 2. Linear Equations and Inequalities 2.1 Linear Equations 2.2 Linear Equations and Problem Solving 2.3 Business and Scientific Problems 2.4 Linear Inequalities 2.5 Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities 3. Graphs and Functions 3.1 The Rectangular Coordinate System 3.2 Graphs of Equations 3.3 Slope and Graphs of Linear Equations 3.4 Equations of Lines 3.5 Graphs of Linear Inequalities 3.6 Relations and Functions 3.7 Graphs of Functions 4. Systems of Equations and Inequalities 4.1 Systems of Equations 4.2 Linear Systems in Two Variables 4.3 Linear Systems in Three Variables 4.4 Matrices and Linear Systems 4.5 Determinants and Linear Systems 4.6 Systems of Linear Inequalities Cumulative Test: Chapters 1-4 5. Polynomials and Factoring 5.1 Integer Exponents and Scientific Notation 5.2 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials 5.3 Multiplying Polynomials 5.4 Factoring by Grouping and Special Forms 5.5 Factoring Trinomials 5.6 Solving Polynomial Equations by Factoring 6. Rational Expressions, Equations, and Functions 6.1 Rational Expressions and Functions 6.2 Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions 6.3 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions 6.4 Complex Fractions 6.5 Dividing Polynomials and Synthetic Division 6.6 Solving Rational Equations 6.7 Applications and Variation 7. Radicals and Complex Numbers 7.1 Radicals and Rational Exponents 7.2 Simplifying Radical Expressions 7.3 Adding and Subtracting Radical Expressions 7.4 Mulitplying and Dividing Radical Expressions 7.5 Radical Equations and Applications 7.6 Complex Numbers Cumulative Test: Chapters 5-7 8. Quadratic Equations, Functions, and Inequalities 8.1 Solving Quadratic Equations: Factoring and Special Forms 8.2 Completing the Square 8.3 The Quadratic Formula 8.4 Graphs of Quadratic Functions 8.5 Applications of Quadratic Equations 8.6 Quadratic and Rational Inequalities 9. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 9.1 Exponential Functions 9.2 Composite and Inverse Functions 9.3 Logarithmic Functions 9.4 Properties of Logarithms 9.5 Solving Exponential and Logarithmic Equations 9.6 Applications 10. Conics 10.1 Circles and Parabolas 10.2 Ellipses 10.3 Hyperbolas 10.4 Solving Nonlinear Systems of Equations Cumulative Test: Chapters 8-10 11. Sequences, Series, and the Binomial Theorem 11.1 Sequences and Series 11.2 Arithmetic Sequences 11.3 Geometric Sequences and Series 11.4 The Binomial Theorem Appendix A. Introduction to Graphing Calculators Appendix B. Further Concepts in Geometry (web) B.1 Exploring Congruence and Similarity B.2 Angles Appendix C. Further Concepts in Statistics (web) Appendix D. Introduction to Logic (web) D.1 Statements and Truth Tables D.2 Implications, Quantifiers, and Venn Diagrams D.3 Logical Arguments Appendix E. Counting Principles (web) Appendix F. Probability (web) Answers to Odd-Numbered Exercises, Quizzes, and Tests Index of Applications Index