Synopses & Reviews
This college algebra text is written in a friendly and an easy to understand manner in order to help students understand the concept presented. This feature combined with ample examples, various types of exercises, and well thought out, real-world applications give the student the right tools to succeed. There are specific features and exercise problems to incorporate graphing calculator technology for those interested, however the material is presented in a way so that it may be skipped for those not utilizing technology.
About the Author
John Coburn grew up in the Hawaiian Islands, the seventh of sixteen children. He received his Associate of Arts degree in 1977 from Windward Community College, where he graduated with honors. In 1979 he received a Bachelors Degree in Education from the University of Hawaii. After being lured into the business world for five years, he returned to his first love, accepting a teaching position in high school mathematics where he was recognized as Teacher of the Year in 1987. Soon afterward, the decision was made to seek a Masters Degree, which he received two years later from the University of Oklahoma. For the last fifteen years, he has been teaching mathematics at the Florissant Valley campus of St. Louis Community College, where he is now a full professor. During his tenure there he has received numerous nominations as an outstanding teacher by the local chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, two nominations to Whos Who Among Americas Teachers and was recognized as Teacher of the year in 2004 by the Mathematics Educators of Greater St. Louis (MEGSL). He has made numerous presentations and local, state and national conferences on a wide variety of topics. His other loves include his family, music, athletics, games and all things beautiful, and hopes this love of life comes through in his writing, and serves to make the learning experience an interesting and engaging one for all students.
Table of Contents
College Algebra
R A Review of Basic Concepts and Skills
R.1 The Langua
ge, Notation and Numbers of Mathematics
R.2 Algebraic Expressions and the Pro
perties of Real Numbers
R.3 Exponents, Polynomials and Operations on Polynomi
als
R.4 Factoring Polynomials
R.5 Rational Expressions
R.6 Radicals and
Rational Exponents
1 Equations and Inequalities
1.1 Linear Equations, F
ormulas and Problem Solving
1.2 Linear Inequalities in One Variable with Appl
ications
1.3 Solving Polynomial and Other Equations
1.4 Complex Numbers
1.5 Solving Non-Factorable Quadratic Equations
2 Functions and Graphs
2.1
Rectangular Coordinates and the Graph of a Line
2.2 Relations, Functions an
d Graphs
2.3 Linear Functions and Rates of Change
2.4 Quadratic and Other
Toolbox Functions
2.5 Functions and Inequalities – A Graphical View
2
.6 Regression, Technology and Data Analysis
3 Operations on Functions and A
nalyzing Graphs
3.1 The Algebra and Composition of Functions
3.2 One-to
-One and Inverse Functions
3.3 Toolbox Functions and Transformations
3.4 G
raphing General Quadratic Functions
3.5 Asymptotes and Simple Rational Functi
ons
3.6 Toolbox Applications: Direct and Inverse Variation
3.7 Piecewise-D
efined Functions
3.8 Analyzing the Graph of a Function
4 Polynomial and
Rational Functions
4.1 Polynomial Long Division and Synthetic Division
4.2
The Remainder and Factor Theorems
4.3 The Zeroes of Polynomial Functions
4
.4 Graphing Polynomial Functions
4.5 Graphing Rational Functions
4.6 Addi
tional Insights into Rational Functions
4.7 Polynomial and Rational Inequalit
ies – An Analytic View
5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
5.1
Exponential Functions
5.2 Logarithms and Logarithmic Functions
5.3 The Ex
ponential Function and Natural Logarithms
5.4 Exponential/Logarithmic Equati
ons and Applications
5.5 Applications from Business, Finance and Physical Sci
ence
5.6 Exponential, Logarithmic, and Logistic Regression Models
6 Syst
ems of Equations and Inequalities
6.1 Linear Systems in Two Variables with Ap
plications
6.2 Linear Systems in Three Variables with Applications
6.3 Sys
tems of Linear Inequalities and Linear Programming
6.4 Systems and Absolute V
alue Equations and Inequalities
6.5 Solving Linear Systems Using Matrices and
Row Operations
6.6 The Algebra of Matrices
6.7 Solving Linear Systems Usi
ng Matrix Equations
6.8 Matrix Applications: Cramers Rule, Partial Fractions
and More
7 Conic Sections and Non-Linear Systems
7.1 The Circle and the
Ellipse
7.2 The Hyperbola
7.3 Nonlinear Systems of Equations and Inequalit
ies
7.4 Foci and the Analytic Ellipse and Hyperbola
7.5 The Analytic Parab
ola
8 Additional Topics in Algebra
8.1 Sequences and Series
8.2 Arith
metic Sequences
8.3 Geometric Sequences
8.4 Mathematical Induction
8.5
Counting Techniques
8.6 Introduction to Probability
8.7 The Binomial Theor
em