Synopses & Reviews
The fundamental goal in Tussy and Gustafson's BASIC MATHEMATICS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS, Third Edition is to teach students to read, write, and think about mathematics through building a conceptual foundation in the language of mathematics. The book blends instructional approaches that include vocabulary, practice, and well-defined pedagogy, along with an emphasis on reasoning, modeling, communication, and technology skills. Also students planning to take an introductory algebra course in the future can use this text to build the mathematical foundation they will need. Tussy and Gustafson understand the challenges of teaching developmental students and this book reflects a holistic approach to teaching mathematics that includes developing study skills, problem solving, and critical thinking alongside mathematical concepts. New features in this edition include a pretest for students to gauge their understanding of prerequisite concepts, problems that make correlations between student life and the mathematical concepts, and study skills information designed to give students the best chance to succeed in the course. Additionally, the text's widely acclaimed Study Sets at the end of every section are tailored to improve students' ability to read, write, and communicate mathematical ideas.
Review
"The exercises are high quality and there are plenty for students to do. The problems reinforce the chapter concepts well."
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: 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. WHOLE NUMBERS. An Introduction to the Whole Numbers. Adding Whole Numbers. Subtracting Whole Numbers. Multiplying Whole Numbers. Dividing Whole Numbers. Estimation. Prime Factors and Exponents. Order of Operations. Key Concept: Order of Operations. 2. THE INTEGERS. An Introduction to the Integers. Addition of Integers. Subtraction of Integers. Multiplication of Integers. Order of Operations and Estimation. Key Concept: Signed Numbers. 3. FRACTIONS AND MIXED NUMBERS. The Fundamental Property of Fractions. Multiplying Fractions. Dividing Fractions. Adding and Subtracting Fractions. LCM and GCF. Multiplying and Dividing Mixed Numbers. Adding and Subtracting Mixed Numbers. Order of Operations and Complex Fractions. Key Concept: The Fundamental Property of Fractions. 4. DECIMALS. An Introduction to Decimals. Addition and Subtraction with Decimals. Multiplication with Decimals. Division with Decimals. Square Roots. Key Concept: The Real Numbers. 5. PERCENT. Percents, Decimals, and Fractions. Solving Percent Problems. Applications of Percents. Interest. Key Concept: Percent. 6. RATIO, PROPORTION, AND MEASUREMENT. Ratio. Proportions. American Units of Measurement. Metric Units of measurement. Converting Between American and Metric Units. Key Concept: Proportions. 7. DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS. Reading Graphs and Tables. Mean, Median, and Mode. Key Concept: The Mean, Median, and Mode. 8. AN INTRODUCTION TO ALGEBRA. Solving Equations by Addition and Subtraction. Solving Equations by Division and Multiplication. Algebraic Expressions and Formulas. Simplifying Algebraic Expressions and the Distributive Property. Combining Like Terms. Simplifying Expressions to Solve Equations. Exponents. Key Concept: Variables. 9. INTRODUCTION TO GEOMETRY. Some Basic Definitions. Parallel and Perpendicular Lines. Polygons. Properties of Triangles. Perimeters and Areas of Polygons. Circles. Surface Area and Volume. Key Concept: Formulas. Appendix 1: Polynomials. Appendix 2: Inductive and Deductive Reasoning. Appendix 3: Roots and Powers. Appendix 4: Answers to Selected Exercises.