Book Description
This latest edition in the highly respected Swokowski/Cole precalculus series retains the elements that have made it so popular with instructors and students alike: its exposition is clear, the time-tested exercise sets feature a variety of applications, its uncluttered layout is appealing, and the difficulty level of problems is appropriate and consistent. The goal of this text is to prepare students for further courses in mathematics. Mathematically sound, FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE ALGEBRA effectively prepares students for further courses in mathematics through its excellent, time-tested problem sets. This edition has been improved in many respects including the addition of technology inserts with specific keystrokes for the TI-83 Plus and the TI-86, ideal for students who are working with a calculator for the first time. The design of the text makes the technology inserts easily identifiable, so if a professor prefers to skip these sections it is simple to do so. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A good book, but you may need outside help or supplementaion
I've just completed this book as part of a correspondence course. I found most of the explanations clear and to the point, but there were places in which the author lost me completely. Much of the theory, which should haveclarified the topics under discussion, only gave me more reason to ask,"Why?" The solutions provided in the back of the book onlycovered the odd-numbered exercises, and there were absolutely noexplanations. Techniques of solving problems is the very foundation of thecourse. I'd like to see more of this included in future editions.

Is a great book if you want to learn the "fundamentals"
Yes, this book is great if you want to learn what's behind each equation.In fact the most important thing about this book is to remember these theories and reasons so that you can apply them to many problems.Nice forlearning the rules and good examples that illustrate the main ideas. ... Read more

Book Description

Over the years, the text has been shaped and adapted to meet the changing needs of both students and educators. As always, special care was taken to respond to the specific suggestions of users and reviewers through enhanced discussions, new and updated examples and exercises, helpful features, and an extensive package of supplements and study aids. The result is an easy-to-use, comprehensive text that is the best edition yet.

Customer Reviews (2)

What a wonderful seller!
I truly did enjoyed being a client of this seller! I got a perfect product with a perfect service and a quick delivery! I felt secure with my order.
Thank you very much!!

Decent at best.
The book is decent.But is not a great text book.It's highlihgted formulas, etc... are very helpful, but it doesn't seem to explain a lot of things in a way to make them easily understandable.I have used manydifferent math books, and I would not use this one unless you are teaachingextremely bright students. ... Read more

Book Description

KEY MESSAGE: Integrated Arithmetic and Basic Algebra, Fourth Edition, integrates arithmetic and algebra to allow students to see the big picture of math. Rather than separating these two subjects, this text helps students recognize algebra as a natural extension of arithmetic. As a result, students see how concepts are interrelated and are better prepared for future courses.

KEY TOPICS: Adding and Subtracting Integers and Polynomials; Laws of Exponents, Products and Quotients of Integers and Polynomials; Linear Equations and Inequalities; Graphing Linear Equations and Inequalities; Factors, Divisors, and Factoring; Multiplication and Division of Rational Numbers and Expressions; Addition and Subtraction of Rational Numbers and Expressions; Ratios, Percents, and Applications; Systems of Linear Equations; Roots and Radicals; Solving Quadratic Equations

MARKET: For all readers interested in algebra and basic algebra.

Book Description
Tussy and Gustafson's fundamental goal is to build students' conceptual foundation in the "language of algebra" through reading, writing, and talking about mathematics. Their text blends instructional approaches that include vocabulary, varied practice problem sets, and well-defined pedagogy, along with an emphasis on reasoning, modeling, communication, and technology skills. Tussy and Gustafson make learning easy for students with their five-step problem-solving approach: analyze the problem, form an equation, solve the equation, state the result, and check the solution. In addition, 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.The Third Edition of ELEMENTARY AND INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA also features a robust suite of online course management, testing, and tutorial resources for instructors and students. This includes iLrn Testing and Tutorial, vMentor live online tutoring, the Interactive Video Skillbuilder CD-ROM with MathCue, a Book Companion Web Site featuring online graphing calculator resources, and The Learning Equation (TLE), powered by iLrn. TLE provides a complete courseware package, featuring a diagnostic tool that gives instructors the capability to create individualized study plans. With TLE, a cohesive, focused study plan can be put together to help each student succeed in math. ... Read more

Book Description
Exceptionally clear and accessible, Pat McKeague's best-selling texts offer all the review, drill, and practice students need to develop solid mathematical proficiency and confidence. McKeague's attention to detail, exceptional writing style, and organization of mathematical concepts make teaching enjoyable and learning accessible.The sixth edition of this popular paperback series gives the book a greater emphasis on the connections between equations, tables, and graphs and by incorporating pedagogy that addresses collaborative learning and terminology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Best Intermediate Algebra textbook I've ever seen!
I've taught Intermediate Algebra for the past 5 years, and this is the best Intermediate Algebra text I've ever seen.The sections are clearlyorganized with many more worked examples than in most textbooks.Theproblems sets are excellent also.You won't find anything better inIntermediate Algebra: I've seen the rest, GO WITH McKEAGUE CAUSE HE'S THEBEST!

An easy to follow guide for mastering Algebra.
This text book starts at the beginning, with each lesson progressing a step further. The language and examples are clear. Particularly noteworthy are the study guides. Follow them faithfully, keep plugging away, and youWILL master Algebra! ... Read more

Book Description
Exceptionally clear and accessible, Pat McKeague's best-selling texts offer all the review, drill, and practice students need to develop solid mathematical proficiency and confidence. McKeague's attention to detail, exceptional writing style, and organization of mathematical concepts make teaching enjoyable and learning accessible.The sixth edition of this popular paperback series gives the book a greater emphasis on the connections between equations, tables, and graphs and by incorporating pedagogy that addresses collaborative learning and terminology. ... Read more

Book Description
James Stewart, author of the worldwide, best-selling Calculus texts, along with two of his former Ph.D. students, Lothar Redlin and Saleem Watson, collaborated in writing this text to address a problem they frequently saw in their calculus courses: many students were not prepared to think mathematically but attempted instead to memorize facts and mimic examples. College Algebra was written specifically to help students learn to think mathematically and to develop true problem-solving skills. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

College Algebra
I hated this book. I didn't think it explained things well. I ended up dropping the course. I have gone through many algebra books and I am finding that many of them do not show examples very well and since I am a very visual learner, I need it to be broken down visually, I was very disappointed in the book.

Best written text I've used!
I am a math major trying to find this book because I wasn't able to keep it after I took College Algebra.Yay!I've found it! This has to be the best-written text I've ever used ... over Trigonometry, Calculus 1,2,& 3 (using two different college's different texts), Discrete Mathematics, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Abstract Algebra, Real Analysis, Probability and Statistics, and college Geometry.The writing is interesting, explanations are very clear, and practice exercises representative of what was taught.This is one of the few texts I could read before class and get a good idea of what was going on!Highly highly recommended, even if you just need a good reference book!

Stay away from this book if possible
This book is the worst math book I ever had. I had to buy this for my class, but I barely take a look at it because the explanations are so messed up. They do things the long way and do thing more complicated, but the thing that bothers me the most is that their explanations can confuse you more than clarify things. This book has some bad editing because some of the answers in the back are wrong and they don't show the process of the problems. I only use this book for the homework assignments. I usually just jog down what the teachers says, which gives out better explanations which are shorter and clearer ways to do things.

Another pathetic college algebra book
The marketing machine for Stewart's books is working wonders, but the books aren't. Too many colleges and universities are duped into adopting these books while students and conscious instructors exploit minimal benefit from them, specially in the problem sets, which are quite poor.

Discover algebra
We use this book by Stewart, Redlin and Watson for our College Algebra class, one of the two bridge classes between intermediate algebra and the college-level calculus course (the other bridge course is trigonometry).The first chapter is a review of key concepts (one that I've found almost every algebra book tends to cover, regardless of level).Real numbers, algebraic expressions, exponents, radicals, and factoring are reintroduced to students in ways that will carry through the rest of the text.Depending upon the sequencing of study, this section can be glossed over fairly quickly.However, the student would be well served to see the Discovery Project in this section, which shows an interesting graphic/visual way of seeing how equations operate.

The Discover Project is one of the unique features of this text overall.Each chapter contains a Discovery Project designed to bring 'life' to the numbers and concepts with which the student is working in the rest of the chapter.Discovery Projects include looking at equations through the ages (how did people do math in the past?), just what is zero anyway, how do exponents work exponentially, and how does the increasingly popular concept of chaos fit into math at this level?

These are part of the 'rule of four' the authors employ - 'topics should be presented geometrically, numerically, algebraically, and verbally.'Another part of this is the Focus on Modeling sections found at the end of each chapter, which encourage students to apply the concepts to real-world applications and situations - just what do these lines and graphs mean?How do these numbers and the way they are played out correspond to anything that means anything?These exercises will help.

The pages are visually interesting, with side-bar information laid out separated from the main strand of text.Sometimes these will include brief biographies of mathematicians and scientists, and sometimes illumination of key and interesting concepts related to the main text topic.These also serve to connect mathematics back to practical, real-world situations.

The text also takes advantage of the ready availability of graphing calculators and graphing aids on the computer/internet.There is also a skill-building CD-ROM included with the text, that includes Spanish subtitles and graphic calculator tutorials.Students also might be interested in purchasing the Student Solutions Manual (ISBN 0534-40601-7) by John Banks, in which the solutions to all the odd-numbered problems are fully worked out with all work shown (the final answers to these problems are included in the back of the regular text).

The chapters cover functions, graphing and coordinates, systems of equations, exponential and logarithmic functions, matrices and determinants, conic sections, sequences and series, and probability theories.

I have few criticisms of this book.I wish it had been around when I was doing this subject for the first time 25 years ago (of course, back then I was privileged to have a simple calculator that had the four arithmetical functions, and nothing else).One thing I might have wished for was a Mathematical Vignette on Hypatia, the mathematician from Alexandria from the fourth and fifth centuries (women are represented in the Vignettes, but certainly Hypatia deserves a place among the list in this text).However, this is a very minor flaw in an otherwise great text.The text is almost worth buying just for the picture of Ronald Graham juggling Rubik's Cubes.
... Read more

Book Description
Tussy and Gustafson's fundamental goal is to have students read, write, and talk about mathematics through building a conceptual foundation in the language of mathematics. Their text blends instructional approaches that include vocabulary, practice, and well-defined pedagogy, along with an emphasis on reasoning, modeling, and communication skills. With an emphasis on the "language of algebra," they foster students' ability to translate English into mathematical expressions and equations. Tussy and Gustafson make learning easy for students with their five-step problem-solving approach: analyze the problem, form an equation, solve the equation, state the result, and check the solution. In addition, 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. The Third Edition of ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA also features a robust suite of online course management, testing, and tutorial resources for instructors and students. This includes BCA/iLrn Testing and Tutorial, vMentor live online tutoring, the Interactive Video Skillbuilder CD-ROM with MathCue, a Book Companion Web Site featuring online graphing calculator resources, and The Learning Equation (TLE), powered by BCA/iLrn. TLE provides a complete courseware package, featuring a diagnostic tool that gives instructors the capability to create individualized study plans. With TLE, a cohesive, focused study plan can be put together to help each student succeed in math. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This book helped me be a better math student.
This is one book a math student should buy ... Read more

Book Description
Tussy and Gustafson's fully integrated learning process is designed to expand students' reasoning abilities and teach them how to read, write, and think mathematically. In this text, the introduction of coordinate graphing appears early, in Chapter 3.The authors build the strong mathematical foundation necessary to give students confidence to apply their newly acquired skills in further mathematics courses, at home, or on the job. ... Read more

Book Description
Students who approach math with trepidation will find that Elementary Algebra, Second Edition, builds competence and confidence. The study system, introduced at the outset and used consistently throughout the text, transforms the student experience by applying time-tested strategies to the study of mathematics. Learning strategies dovetail nicely into the overall system and build on individual learning styles by addressing students’ unique strengths. The authors talk to students in their own language and walk them through the concepts, showing students both how to do the math and the reasoning behind it. Tying it all together, the use of the Algebra Pyramid as an overarching theme relates specific chapter topics to the ‘big picture’ of algebra. ... Read more

Book Description
This text, written by best-selling developmental mathematics author Pat McKeague, features a more streamlined review of elementary algebra, allowing for earlier coverage of intermediate topics. An early introduction to graphing presents the foundation for a wide variety of graphing problems throughout the text. Early coverage of functions helps students feel comfortable with the many examples and graphs of functions that occur in later chapters. Optional technology sections are integrated throughout the text, as a way for students to better understand the material being discussed. INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA: CONCEPTS AND GRAPHS, 4/e is ideal for professors who want a condensed review of elementary algebra, and more time to spend on new topics.The new DIGITAL VIDEO COMPANION student CD-ROM, packaged with the text, offers an excellent tutorial featuring the author. ... Read more

Book Description
Exceptionally clear and accessible, Pat McKeague's best-selling texts offer all the review, drill, and practice students need to develop solid mathematical proficiency and confidence. McKeague's attention to detail, exceptional writing style, and organization of mathematical concepts make teaching enjoyable and learning accessible. The seventh edition of this popular series gives the book a greater emphasis on the connections between equations, tables, and graphs and by incorporating pedagogy that addresses collaborative learning and terminology. ... Read more

Book Description
Get a good grade in algebra with 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 live online tutoring, chapter summaries, self-checks, getting ready exercises, vocabulary and concept problems, web quizzes, and chapter tests. Use this text, and you'll learn solid mathematical skills that will help you both in future mathematical courses and in real-life! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Worst textbook ever
This has to be one of the worst textbooks ever, as I found out when I took Intermediate Algebra at a Community College the summer after my freshman year.

Its format is to state a theorem, NOT prove or explain it, and then show several examples of numbers being plugged into it. Then there are a whole bunch of problems that are exactly the same; plug a number in and solve. They require absolutely no thinking or synthesis of skills. The whole thing is completely based on rote memory, and it's utterly boring and takes all the fun out of math. Even when it tries to explain stuff in layman's terms (which every math textbook should do as much as possible), it never helps you understand anything better; it just says "remember to apply theorem _."

Theoretically there's a whole bunch of supplemental material online or on the CD-ROM, but let's be honest, nobody's ever going to use that. A good textbook should have everything right there on paper. I don't think I even could get onto the website when I tried, since it was all restricted by passwords that I didn't know.

There are much, much better textbooks out there. Sure, the colors and illustrations are cool, but the book itself is crud.

Math Rocks!!
This book made math fun and easy.Math Rocks!!! As we used to say back in the day, "Full Tilt, Rock and Roll." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

I Don't Get This Title...
First of all, this is NOT a standalone text book.In order to fully understand it, you MUST have Mathematica or Maple.The "tutorials" which explain the homework assignments for the section are really confusing and poorly explained.Many times the author will say things like "Type this command into the computer to get the following output: [some random matrix]" without saying what the command is.And what's the point of even printing a textbook, since you need to use a computer to fully understand what the author is trying to explain?

Also, many of the ways to solve "Pencil and Paper" problems are not explained at all in the book.There are many questions where it's difficult to connect the problem at hand to the tutorial for that section.The solution manual sucks too, as there's no way to see how any of these problems are worked out.It only gives either the shortest possible explanation or, more often than not, just lists the answer.

Finally, the title makes no sense.It's as if the author felt if he put some crazy blue balls on the cover and slapped the word "Visual" before the subject matter, it would be perceived as an easy to use manual.

The only reason I trudged through this whole thing was because it was required for one of my classes.If you share the same fate as me, petition the teacher or something, because this book is a painful waste of time that, if you really try to follow it, will lead to you breaking stuff.It's that bad.

Terrible Solutions Manual
I bought this book thinking it would help me solve the problems that I didn't know how to do, but it didn't.The solutions manual is nothing more than a copy of the answers that are already in the back of the textbook.The book doesn't even go into more detail about how they got the answer.Don't waste your money on this solutions manual! ... Read more

Book Description
Exceptionally clear and accessible, Pat McKeague's best-selling texts offer all the review, drill, and practice students need to develop solid mathematical proficiency and confidence. McKeague's attention to detail, exceptional writing style, and organization of mathematical concepts make teaching enjoyable and learning accessible. The seventh edition of this popular series gives the book a greater emphasis on the connections between equations, tables, and graphs and by incorporating pedagogy that addresses collaborative learning and terminology. ... Read more

Book Description
Exceptionally clear and accessible, Pat McKeague's best-selling texts offer all the review, drill, and practice students need to develop solid mathematical proficiency and confidence. McKeague's attention to detail, exceptional writing style, and organization of mathematical concepts make teaching enjoyable and learning accessible.Building on his reputation for student-friendly content and supportive pedagogy, McKeague reaffirms his presence as a leader in developmental mathematics with the introduction of this new paperback title. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent CD and book
The CD is very good.The video tutorial section gave you a very good instruction.The exercise and tests can be modified, so you can skip the area that you are good at and practice the area that you are not good at.Most of all it grade your results instantly.The textbook has additional examples and problem applications for each chapter.I used this to teach my 9 years old son who is gifted in math.I wish I can find textbook/CD in other subjects as good as this one.I have bought many other textbooks with CD and this was the only one I found useful. ... Read more

Book Description

Over the years, the text has been shaped and adapted to meet the changing needs of both students and educators. As always, special care was taken to respond to the specific suggestions of users and reviewers through enhanced discussions, new and updated examples and exercises, helpful features, and an extensive package of supplements and study aids. The result is an easy-to-use, comprehensive text that is the best edition yet.

Product Description
This is a test prep CD-ROM. It is self-paced and easy to use, provides feedback on correct and incorrect responses, gives hints that help students work independently, is appropriate for use at school or at home, has a fully automatice management system that tracks student progress, and is correlated to Glencoe Algebra 2. ... Read more