Synopses & Reviews
The Fourth Edition of Yoshiwara and Yoshiwara's MODELING, FUNCTIONS, AND GRAPHS: ALGEBRA FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS includes content found in a typical algebra course, along with introductions to curve-fitting and display of data. Yoshiwara and Yoshiwara focus on three core themes throughout their textbook: Modeling, Functions, and Graphs. In their work of modeling and functions, the authors utilize the Rule of Four, which is that all problems should be considered using algebraic, numerical, graphical, and verbal methods. The authors motivate students to acquire the skills and techniques of algebra by placing them in the context of simple applications that use real-life data.
About the Author
Kathy Yoshiwara was born in Derby in the UK and grew up in Richmond, Virginia. She attended Michigan State University, where she studied Greek and mathematics. She did graduate work at UCLA and earned an MA in mathematics in 1977. She left UCLA in 1979 to join the faculty at Pierce College, where she has been teaching ever since, except for the 1988-1999 academic year, when she taught at Barnsley College in Yorkshire (northern England) on a Fulbright teaching exchange. She is the author or co-author of three mathematics textbooks and is a member of the Calculus Consortium for Higher Education, where she is part of the writing team for their Precalculus text. She is a member of the MAA (Mathematical Association of America) and currently serves on the Committee for Curriculum Renewal and the First Two Years (CRAFTY). In 1996 she received the Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics from the Southern California Section of the MAA. She is married to Bruce Yoshiwara and benefits from his expertise in all things mathematical. Bruce Yoshiwara has taught full-time at L.A. Pierce College since 1989 (except for the 1998-1999 academic year, when he and his wife Katherine Yoshiwara both had Fulbright Teacher Exchange positions at Barnsley College, England). He is co-author (Katherine is the principal author) of three algebra and pre-algebra textbooks. He serves on the Mathematical Association of American (MAA) Committee on Computers in Mathematics Education and is a consultant for Project NExT (New Experiences in Teaching). Bruce is editor of the Pierce Math Department newsletter and maintains the department web page.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. FUNCTIONS AND THEIR GRAPHS. Linear Models. Definitions and Notation. Graphs of Functions. Slope and Rate of Change. Linear Functions. Linear Regression. Chapter 2. MODELING WITH FUNCTIONS. Nonlinear Models. Some Basic Functions. Transformations of Graphs. Functions as Models. The Absolute Value Function. Domain and Range. Summary and Review. Chapter 3. POWER FUNCTIONS. Variation, Integer Exponents. Roots and Radicals. Rational Exponents. Change of Variables. Joint Variation. Chapter 4. EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS. Exponential Growth and Decay. Exponential Functions. Logarithms. Exponential Models. Chapter 5. LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS AND TRANSFORMATIONS. Inverse Functions. Log Scales. The Natural Base. Log Transformations. Chapter 6. QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS. Solving Quadratic Equations. Factors and x-Intercepts. Parabolas. Problem Solving. Quadratic Inequalities. Curve Fitting. Chapter 7. POLYNOMIAL AND RATIONAL FUNCTIONS. Polynomial Functions. Graphs of Polynomials. Complex Numbers. Graphs of Rational Functions. Equations with Algebraic Fractions. Chapter 8. LINEAR SYSTEMS. Systems of Linear Equations. Solving Linear Systems in Two Variables. Systems of Linear Equations in Three Variables. Solving Linear Systems Using Matrices. Linear Inequalities. Linear Programming. Appendix A. ALGEBRA SKILLS REFRESHER. Numbers and Operations. Algebraic Expressions and Problem Solving. Linear Equations and Inequalities. Graphs and Equations. Laws of Exponents. Polynomials and Factoring. Radicals. Algebraic Fractions. Facts from Geometry. The Real Number System. Appendix B. Using a Graphing Calculator.