Algebra For College Students (text Only) - 2nd edition

Summary: Algebra for College Students is designed to provide students with the algebra background needed for further college-level mathematics courses. The unifying theme of this text is the development of the skills necessary for solving equations and inequalities, followed by the application of those skills to solving applied problems. The primary goal in writing the second edition of Algebra for College Students has been to retain the features that made the first ed ...show moreition so successful, while incorporating the comments and suggestions of first-edition users. Many new features have been provided that will help instructors reach the goals that they have set for their students. As always, the author endeavors to write texts that your students can read, understand, and enjoy, while gaining confidence in their ability to use mathematics. While the essence of the text remains, the topics have been rearranged and new features added to reflect the current needs of instructors and students.

New to This Edition

• An increased emphasis on real-data applications that involve graphs is a focus for the third edition. Some exercises have been updated throughout the text to help demonstrate concepts, motivate students, and to give students practice using new skills. Many of the real data exercises contain data obtained from the Internet. Internet addresses are provided as a resource for both students and teachers. Because internet addresses frequently change, a list of addresses will also be available on the website so that they may be more effectively maintained. An Index of Applications listing applications by subject matter is included at the front of the text.
• The third edition contains three new margin features that appear throughout the text: Calculator Close-Ups give students an idea of how and when to use a graphing calculator. Some Calculator Close-Ups simply introduce the features of a graphing calculator, but many are intended to enhance understanding of algebraic concepts. For this reason, many of the Calculator Close-Ups will benefit even those students who do not use a graphing calculator. Study Tips are included in the margins throughout the text. These short tips are meant to continually reinforce good study habits and keep reminding students that it is never too late to make improvements in the manner in which they study.
• Helpful Hints are short comments that enhance the material in the text, provide another way of approaching a problem, or clear up misconceptions.
• Every section in the third edition generally begins with six simple writing exercises; these exercises appear in the exercise sets. These exercises are designed to get students to review the definitions and rules of the section before doing more traditional exercises. For example, the student might be simply asked what properties of equality were discussed in this section.

• Each chapter begins with a Chapter Opener that discusses a real application of algebra. The discussion is accompanied by a photograph and, in most cases by a real-data application graph that helps students visualize algebra and more fully understand the concepts discussed in the chapter. In addition, each chapter contains a Math at Work feature, which profiles a real person and the mathematics that he or she uses on the job. These two features have corresponding real data exercises.
• Every section begins with In This Section, a list of topics that shows the student what will be covered. Because the topics correspond to the headings within each section, students will find it easy to locate and study specific concepts.
• Important ideas, such as definitions, rules, summaries, and strategies, are set apart in boxes for quick reference. Color is used to highlight these boxes as well as other important points in the text.
• At the end of every section are Warm-up exercises, a set of ten simple statements that are to be answered true or false. These exercises are designed to provide a smooth transition between the ideas and the exercise sets. They help students understand that every statement in mathematics is either true or false. They are also good for discussion or group work.
• The end-of-section Exercises follow the same order as the textual material and contain exercises that are keyed to examples, as well as numerous exercises that are not keyed to examples. This organization allows the instructor to cover only part of a section if necessary and easily determine which exercises are appropriate to assign. The keyed exercises give the student a place to start practicing and building confidence, whereas the non-keyed exercises are designed to wean the student from following examples in a step-by-step manner. Getting More Involved exercises are designed to encourage writing, discussion, exploration, and cooperative learning. Graphing Calculator Exercises require a graphing calculator and are identified with a graphing calculator logo. Exercises for which a scientific calculator would be helpful are identified with a scientific calculator logo.
• Every chapter ends with a four-part Wrap-up, which includes the following: The Chapter Summary lists important concepts along with brief illustrative examples. Enriching Your Mathematical Word Power NEW! appears at the end of each chapter and consists of multiple choice questions in which the important terms are to be matched with their meanings. This feature emphasizes the importance of proper terminology.
• The Review Exercises contain problems that are keyed to the sections of the chapter as well as numerous miscellaneous exercises.
• The Chapter Test is designed to help the student assess his or her readiness for a test. The Chapter Test has no keyed exercises, thus enabling the student to work independently of the sections and examples.
• At the end of each chapter is a Collaborative Activities feature which is designed to encourage interaction and learning in groups. Instructions and suggestions for using these activities and answers to all problems can be found in the Instructor's Solutions Manual.
• The Making Connections exercises at the end of each chapter are designed to help your students review and synthesize the new material with ideas from previous chapters, and in some cases, review material necessary for success in the upcoming chapter. Every Making Connections exercise set includes at least one applied exercise that requires ideas from one or more of the previous chapters.

Edition/Copyright: 2ND 00
Cover: Hardback
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company
Year Published: 2000

View Author Bio

Dugopolski, Mark : Southeastern Louisiana University

View Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The Real Numbers

1.1 Sets
1.2 The Real Numbers
1.3 Operations on the Set of Real Numbers
1.4 Evaluating Expressions
1.5 Properties of the Real Numbers
1.6 Using the Properties

Chapter 2 Linear Equations and Inequalities in One Variable

2.1 Linear Equations in One Variable
2.2 Formulas
2.3 Applications
2.4 Inequalities
2.5 Compound Inequalities
2.6 Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities

Chapter 3 Graphs and Functions in the Cartesian Coordinate System

3.1 Graphing Lines in the Coordinate Plane
3.2 Slope of a Line
3.3 Three Forms for the Equation of a Line
3.4 Linear Inequalities and Their Graphs
3.5 Relations and Functions
3.6 Graphs of Functions

Chapter 4 Systems of Linear Equations

4.1 Solving Systems by Graphing and Substitution
4.2 The Addition Method
4.3 Systems of Linear Equations in Three Variables
4.4 Solving Linear Systems Using Matrices
4.5 Cramer's Rule for Systems in Two Variables
4.6 Cramer's Rule for Systems in Three Variables
4.7 Linear Programming

Chapter 5 Exponents and Polynomials

5.1 Integral Exponents and Scientific Notation
5.2 The Power Rules
5.3 Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication of Polynomials
5.4 Multiplying Binomials
5.5 Division of Polynomials
5.6 Factoring Polynomials
5.7 Factoring ax2 + bx + c
5.8 Factoring Strategy
5.9 Solving Equations by Factoring

Chapter 6 Rational Expressions

6.1 Properties of Rational Expressions
6.2 Multiplication and Division
6.3 Addition and Subtraction
6.4 Complex Fractions
6.5 Solving Equations Involving Rational Expressions
6.6 Applications

Chapter 7 Rational Exponents and Radicals

7.1 Rational Exponents
7.2 Radicals
7.3 Operations with Radicals
7.4 More Operations with Radicals
7.5 Solving Equations with Radicals and Exponents
7.6 Complex Numbers

Chapter 8 Quadratic Equations and Inequalities

8.1 Factoring and Completing the Square
8.2 The Quadratic Formula
8.3 More on Quadratic Equations
8.4 Quadratic and Rational Inequalities

Chapter 9 Additional Function Topics

9.1 Combining Functions
9.2 Inverse Functions
9.3 Variation
9.4 The Factor Theorem

Chapter 10 Polynomial and Rational Functions

10.1 Zeros of a Polynomial Function
10.2 The Theory of Equations
10.3 Graphs of Polynomial Functions
10.4 Graphs of Rational Functions
10.5 Transformations of Graphs

Chapter 11 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

11.1 Exponential Functions
11.2 Logarithmic Functions
11.3 Properties of Logarithms
11.4 Solving Equations

Chapter 12 Nonlinear Systems and the Conic Sections

12.1 Nonlinear Systems of Equations
12.2 The Parabola
12.3 The Circle
12.4 The Ellipse and Hyperbola
12.5 Second-Degree Inequalities

Chapter 13 Sequences and Series

13.1 Sequences
13.2 Series
13.3 Arithmetic Sequences and Series
13.4 Geometric Sequences and Series
13.5 Binomial Expansions

Chapter 14 Counting and Probability

14.1 Counting and Permutations
14.2 Combinations
14.3 Probability

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