College Algebra

by R. David Gustafson, Jeff Hughes

Overview

Clearly written and comprehensive, the eleventh edition of Gustafson and Hughes' popular book, COLLEGE ALGEBRA, provides in-depth and precise coverage, incorporated into a framework of tested teaching strategy. The authors combine carefully selected pedagogical features and patient explanations to give readers a book that preserves the integrity of mathematics, yet does not discourage them with material that is confusing or too rigorous. Long respected for its ability to help learners quickly master difficult problems, this book also helps them develop the skills they'll need in future courses and in everyday life. Retaining the mathematical precision instructors have come to expect, the authors have focused on making this new edition more modern to better illustrate the importance of math in our world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781111990909
Publisher:	Cengage Learning
Publication date:	01/09/2012
Series:	College Algebra
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	848
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 10.90(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

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. In addition to this best-selling college algebra resource with Jeffrey Hughes, he has co-authored Gustafson/Karr/Massey's BEGINNING ALGEBRA; INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA; BEGINNING AND 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 the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) as a Midwest vice president. He has also served as president of IMACC, AMATYC's Illinois affiliate. Professor Gustafson earned a master of arts from Rockford College in Illinois as well as a master of science from Northern Illinois University.

Jeffrey Hughes is Curriculum Coordinator of Mathematics at Hinds Community College (Hinds CC) and holds degrees from Mississippi College and the University of Mississippi. He has been teaching for more than 30 years at Hinds CC. Professor Hughes' favorite courses to teach include college algebra, calculus II and differential equations. He has a passion for mathematics and a heart for student instruction, and he sees teaching as a privilege. Professor Hughes consistently finds new ways to present topics while engaging students and elevating student thinking. In addition to this edition, Professor Hughes has co-authored PRECALCULUS, published by Cengage. He has received Hinds CC’s Outstanding Academic Instructor of the Year Award and Hinds CC’s Phi Theta Kappa’s Teacher of the Year Award twice. He has been honored by the Mississippi Legislature for his commitment to education and has received the HEADWAE award. Professor Hughes is also active in the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) and has served as a president of its Louisiana-Mississippi affiliate, LaMsMATYC. In addition, he is active in the Mississippi Collegiate Mathematics Association (MCMA) and has served as president of this organization twice. At Hinds CC, he teaches leadership in the Honors Institute. Professor Hughes has worked part-time for more than twenty-five years as a student minister at his church and has spent seven summers teaching English in China.

Table of Contents

0. A REVIEW OF BASIC ALGEBRA. Sets of Real Numbers. Integer Exponents and Scientific Notation. Rational Exponents and Radicals. Polynomials. Factoring Polynomials. Rational Expressions. Chapter Review. Chapter Test. 1. EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES. Linear Equations and Rational Equations. Applications of Linear Equations. Quadratic Equations. Applications of Quadratic Equations. Complex Numbers. Polynomial and Radical Equations. Inequalities. Absolute Value. Chapter Review. Chapter Test. Cumulative Review Exercises. 2. THE RECTANGULAR COORDINATE SYSTEM AND GRAPHS OF EQUATIONS. The Rectangular Coordinate System. The Slope of a Nonvertical Line. Writing Equations of Lines. Graphs of Equations. Proportion and Variation. Chapter Review. Chapter Test. 3. FUNCTIONS. Functions and Function Notation. Quadratic Functions. Polynomial and Other Functions. Transformation of Functions. Rational Functions. Operations on Functions. Inverse Functions. Chapter Review. Chapter Test. Cumulative Review Exercises. 4. EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS. Exponential Functions and Their Graphs. Applications of Exponential Functions. Logarithmic Functions and Their Graphs. Applications of Logarithmic Functions. Properties of Logarithms. Exponential and Logarithmic Equations. Chapter Review. Chapter Test. 5. SOLVING POLYNOMIAL EQUATIONS. The Remainder and Factor Theorems; Synthetic Division. Descartes' Rule of Signs and Bounds on Roots. Roots of Polynomial Equations. Approximating Irrational Roots of Polynomial Equations. Chapter Review. Chapter Test. Cumulative Review Exercises. 6. LINEAR SYSTEMS. Systems of Linear Equations. Gaussian Elimination and Matrix Methods. Matrix Algebra. Matrix Inversion. Determinants. Partial Fractions. Graphs of Linear Inequalities. Linear Programming. Chapter Review. Chapter Test. 7. CONIC SECTIONS AND QUADRATIC SYSTEMS. The Circle and the Parabola. The Ellipse. The Hyperbola. Solving Problems Using Nonlinear Systems of Equations. Chapter Review. Chapter Test. Cumulative Review Exercises. 8. NATURAL NUMBER FUNCTIONS AND PROBABILITY. The Binomial Theorem. Sequences, Series, and Summation Notation. Arithmetic Sequences. Geometric Sequences. Mathematical Induction. Permutations and Combinations. Probability. Chapter Review. Chapter Test. 9. MATHEMATICS OF FINANCE (online). Interest. Annuities and Future Value. Present Value of an Annuity; Amortization. Linear Programming. Chapter Review. Chapter Test. Cumulative Review Exercises. Appendix I: A PROOF OF THE BINOMIAL THEOREM. Appendix II: TABLES. Powers and Roots. Base-10 Logarithms. Base-e Logarithms. Appendix III: ANSWERS TO SELECTED EXERCISES (in Student Edition only).

Editorial Reviews

"The level of rigor is excellent in the text. It is appropriate for the way I teach the course. I can choose problems for students depending on the class's needs and backgrounds."

"The greatest strength of this book is its detailed coverage of the material, in a tone and style that is understandable and easy to follow for students."

"The exercises are one of the greatest strengths of this book. They are complete, balanced, thorough, reflective of the text material, and appropriately challenging with the 'discovery and writing' sections. I also like the skills maintenance 'review' problems given throughout."

"With the wide range of exercises and various categories of exercises, there seems to be something for almost everyone!"

"The three greatest strengths of this text are its superb organization, its breadth and application of exercises, and its appropriate level of writing for this level."

From the Publisher