Synopses & Reviews
Easy to understand, filled with relevant applications, and focused on helping students develop problem-solving skills, INTERMEDIATE 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
"I like exercises in a sequence of increasing difficulty. I particularly like exercises 105-112 as an application of the Pythagorean Theorem. Students never seem to understand the great importance of this theorem."
Review
"The exercise sets have a good range and quantity of problems."
Synopsis
Get the grade you want in algebra with Gustafson and Frisk's INTERMEDIATE 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!
Synopsis
Get the grade you want in algebra with Gustafson and Frisk's INTERMEDIATE 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!
Synopsis
The new edition of INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA is an exciting and innovative revision that takes an already successful text and makes it more compelling for today's instructor and student. The new edition has been thoroughly updated with a new interior design and other pedagogical features that make the user both easier to read and easier to use. Known for its clear writing and an engaging, accessible approach that makes algebra relevant, INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA helps users to develop problem-solving skills and strategies that they can use in their everyday lives. The new edition welcomes two new co-authors Rosemary Karr and Marilyn Massey who along with David Gustafson have developed a learning plan to help users succeed in Intermediate Algebra and transition to the next level in their coursework.
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.Rosemary Karr graduated from Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) in 1976 with a B.S. in Mathematics, attained her M.A. at EKU in Mathematics Education in 1981, and earned her Ph.D. from the University of North Texas in 1996. After two years teaching high school mathematics, she joined the faculty at Eastern Kentucky University, where she earned tenure as Assistant Professor of Mathematics. A professor of mathematics at Collin College in Plano Texas since 1990, Prof. Karr has written more than 10 solutions manuals, presented numerous papers, and been an active member in several educational associations (including President of the National Association for Developmental Education). She has been honored several times by Collin College, and has received such national recognitions as U.S. Professor of the Year (2007).Marilyn Massey teaches mathematics at Collin College in McKinney, Texas. She has been President of the Texas Association for Developmental Education, featured on the list of Who's Who Among America's Teachers and received an Excellence in Teaching Award from the National Conference for College Teaching and Learning. Professor Massey has presented at numerous state and national conferences; her article "Service-Learning Projects in Data Interpretation" was one of two included from community college instructors for the Mathematical Association of America's publication, Mathematics in Service to the Community. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education from the University of North Texas and Master's Degree in the Art of Teaching Mathematics from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Table of Contents
1. A REVIEW OF BASIC ALGEBRA. The Real Number System. Arithmetic and Properties of Real Numbers. Exponents. Scientific Notation. Solving Equations. Using Equations to Solve Problems. More Applications of Equations. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 1 Test. 2. GRAPHS, EQUATIONS OF LINES AND FUNCTIONS. Graphing Linear Equations. Slope of a Non-Vertical Line. Writing Equations of Lines. Introduction to Functions. Graphs of Other Functions. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 2 Test. Cumulative Review Exercises. 3. SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS. Solution by Graphing. Solution by Elimination. Solutions of Three Equations in Three Variables. Solution by Matrices. Solution by Determinants. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 3 Test. 4. INEQUALITIES. Linear Inequalities. Equations and Inequalities with Absolute Values. Linear Inequalities in Two Variables. Systems of Inequalities. Linear Programming. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 4 test. Cumulative Review Exercises. 5. POLYNOMIALS AND POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS. Polynomials and Polynomial Functions. Adding and Subtracting Polynomials. Multiplying Polynomials. The Greatest Common Factor and Factoring by Grouping. The Difference of Two Squares; the Sum and Difference of Two Cubes. Factoring Trinomials. Summary of Factoring Techniques. Solving Equations by Factoring. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 5 Test. 6. RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS. Rational Functions and Simplifying Rational Expressions. Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions. Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions. Complex Fractions. Equations Containing Rational Expressions. Dividing Polynomials. Synthetic Division. Proportions and Variation. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 6 Test. Cumulative Review Exercises. 7. RADICALS AND RATIONAL EXPONENTS. Radical Expressions. Applications of Radicals. Rational Exponents. Simplifying and Combining Radical Expressions. Multiplying and Dividing Radical Expressions. Radical Equations. Complex Numbers. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 7 Test. 8. QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS, INEQUALITIES, AND ALGEBRA OF FUNCTIONS. Solving Quadratic Equations by Completing the Square. Solving Quadratic Equations by the Quadratic Formula. The Discriminate and Equations That Can be Written in Quadratic Form. Graphs of Quadratic Functions. Quadratic and Other Nonlinear Inequalities. Algebra and Composition of Functions. Inverses of Functions. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 8 Test. Cumulative Review Exercises. 9. EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS. Exponential Functions. Base-e Exponential Functions. Logarithmic Functions. Base-e Logarithms. Exponential and Logarithmic Equations. Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 9 Test. 10. MORE GRAPHING AND CONIC SECTIONS. The Circle and the Parabola. The Ellipse. The Hyperbola. Solving Simultaneous Second-Degree Equations. Piecewise-Defined Functions and the Greatest Integer Function. Problems and Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 10 Test. Cumulative Review Exercises. 11. MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. The Binomial Theorem. The nth Term of a Binomial Expansion. Arithmetic Sequences. Geometric Sequences. Infinite Geometric Sequences. Permutations and Combinations. Probability. Problems and Projects. Chapter Summary. Chapter 11 Test. Cumulative Review Exercises. APPENDICES. Symmetries of Graphs. Sample Final Examination. Tables. Answers to Selected Answers.