Beginning Algebra - Hardcover

Tobey, John; Slater, Jeffrey

3.05

21 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0130932280 ISBN 13: 9780130932280

Publisher: Prentice Hall, 2002

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This clear, accessible treatment of mathematics features a building-block approach toward problem solving, realistic and diverse applications, and chapter organizer to help users focus their study and become effective and confident problem solvers. The Putting Your Skills to Work and new chapter-end feature, Math in the Media, present readers with opportunities to utilize critical thinking skills, analyze and interpret data, and problem solve using applied situations encountered in daily life. Earlier coverage of the Order of Arithmetic Operations—now section 1.5 so that operations is now covered together before Introduction to Algebra. The discussion of solving linear equations in Chapter 2 now includes coverage of equations with no solution and equations with infinitely many solutions. Section 4.3 now offers a more thorough introduction to polynomials, with the addition of new terminology at the beginning of the section and a new lesson on evaluating polynomials at the end. Revised Ch. 7 on Graphing and Functions includes new coverage of the rectangular coordinate system and slope. The coverage of the rectangular coordinate system in Chapter 7 has been improved for greater clarity.

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About the Author:

John Tobey received his BA in mathematics from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois in 1965, his MA in mathematics education from Harvard University in 1966, and his PhD in mathematics education from Boston University in 1980. He has taught in the mathematics department at the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as the Mathematics Department Chairman at North Shore Community College in Danvers, Massachusetts for five years. John has served as the president of the New England Mathematics Association of Two Year Colleges. He has received the NISOD award for outstanding teaching from the University of Texas at Austin. John is the author of seven mathematics books published by Pearson Education. John has spoken to many mathematics departments and at many professional meetings throughout the country on the topic of developmental mathematics education and distance learning in mathematics. He lives in Massachusetts.

Jeffrey Slater has been a professor at North Shore Community College for thirty-eight years and received the Teacher of the Year award in 2002. Jeff travels around the country speaking on student retention and is also a consultant to the Federal Government. He lives in Marblehead, Massachusetts with his wife Shelley and his yellow lab Gracie.

Jamie Blair has directed the Mathematics Learning Center at Orange Coast College for the past seventeen years. She designed, developed, and implemented the Center, and as a result of this effort has provided technical expertise related to the particulars of the Math Center to numerous other two-year colleges and at many conferences. In 2007 Jamie was appointed to the Team of Basic Skills Specialist by the California State Academic Senate. She is also currently participating on Title 3 committees on her campus. She specializes in teaching students who have never been successful in mathematics. She is an expert in the area of basic skills in relation to the learning needs of students. She lives in California.

Jennifer Crawford received her BS in mathematics from the University of Minnesota – Duluth in 1995 and her MS in mathematics from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in 1998. She taught a wide range of courses at North Shore Community College in Danvers, Massachusetts for five years. She currently teaches at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota where her focus is working with developmental math students. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her husband, two young children, and black lab.

To the Instructor

We share a partnership with you. For over thirty years we have taught mathematics courses at North Shore Community College. Each semester we join you in the daily task of sharing the knowledge of mathematics with students who often struggle with this subject. We enjoy teaching and helping students—and we are confident that you share these joys with us.

Mathematics instructors and students face many challenges today. Beginning Algebra was written with these needs in mind. This textbook explains mathematics slowly, clearly, and in a way that is relevant to everyday life for the college student. As with previous editions, special attention has been given to problem solving in the fifth edition. This text is written to help students organize the information in any problem-solving situation, to reduce anxiety, and to provide a guide that enables students to become confident problem solvers.

One of the hallmark characteristics of Beginning Algebra that makes the text easy to learn and teach from is the building-block organization. Each section is written to stand on its own, and each homework set is completely self-testing. Exercises are paired and graded and are of varying levels and types to ensure that all skills and concepts are covered. As a result, the text offers students an effective and proven learning program suitable for a variety of course formats-including lecture-based classes; discussion-oriented classes; distance learning centers; modular, self-paced courses; mathematics laboratories; and computer-supported centers.

Beginning Algebra is part of a series that includes the following:

Tobey/Slater, Basic College Mathematics, Fourth Edition
Blair/Tobey/Slater, Prealgebra, Second Edition
Tobey/Slater, Beginning Algebra, Fifth Edition
Tobey/Slater, Intermediate Algebra, Fourth Edition
Tobey/Slater, Beginning and Intermediate Algebra

We have visited and listened to teachers across the country and have incorporated a number of suggestions into this edition to help you with the particular learning delivery system at your school. The following pages describe the key continuing features and changes in the fifth edition.

Key Features and Changes in the Fifth Edition

Developing Problem-Solving Abilities

We are committed as authors to producing a textbook that emphasizes mathematical reasoning and problem-solving techniques as recommended by AMATYC, NCTM, AMS, NADE, MAA, and other bodies. To this end, the problem sets are built on a wealth of real-life and real-data applications. Unique problems have been developed and incorporated into the exercise sets that help train students in data interpretation, mental mathematics, estimation, geometry and graphing, number sense, critical thinking, and decision making.

More Applied Problems

The exercises and applications have been extensively revised. Numerous real-world and real-data application problems show students the relevance of the math they are learning. The applications relate to everyday life, global issues beyond the borders of the United States, and other academic disciplines. Many include source citations. The number of real-data applications has significantly increased. Roughly 30 percent of the applications have been contributed by actual students based on scenario they have encountered in their home or work lives.

Math in the Media

New Math in the Media applications appear at the end of each chapter to offer students yet another opportunity to see why developing mastery of mathematical concepts enhances their understanding of the world around them. The applications are based on a brief clip, illustration, or information from familiar media sources—either online or print. The exercises may ask students to interpret or verify information, perform calculations, make decisions or predictions, or provide a rationale for their responses.

Putting Your Skills to Work Applications

This highly successful feature has been revised in the fifth edition. There are 10 new Putting Your Skills to Work applications in the new edition. These nonroutine application problems challenge students to synthesize the knowledge they have gained and apply it to a totally new area. Each problem is specifically arranged for independent and cooperative learning or group investigation of mathematical problems that pique student interest. Students are given the opportunity to help one another discover mathematical solutions to extended problems. The investigations feature open-ended questions and extrapolation of data to areas beyond what is normally covered in such a course.

Internet Connections

As an integral part of each Putting Your Skills to Work problem, students are exposed to an interesting application of the Internet and encouraged to continue their investigations. This use of technology inspires students to have confidence in their abilities to successfully use mathematics. In the fifth edition, the Internet Connections have been completely revised and updated.

The companion Web site (http://www.prenhall.com/tobey_beginning) now features annotated links to help students navigate the sites more efficiently and to provide a more user-friendly experience.

Increased Integration and Emphasis on Geometry

Due to the emphasis on geometry on many statewide exams, geometry problems are integrated throughout the text. The new edition contains over approximately 35 percent more geometry problems. Additionally, examples and exercises that incorporate a principle of geometry are now marked with a triangle icon for easy identification.

Blueprint for Problem Solving

The successful Mathematics Blueprint for Problem Solving strengthens problem-solving skills by providing a consistent and interactive outline to help students organize their approach to problem solving. Once students fill in the blueprint, they can refer back to their plan as they do what is needed to solve the problem. Because of its flexibility, this feature can be used with single-step problems, multistep problems, applications, and nonroutine problems that require problem-solving strategies. Students will not need to use the blueprint to solve every problem. It is available for those faced with a problem with which they are not familiar, to alleviate anxiety, to show them where to begin, and to assist them in the steps of reasoning.

Developing Your Study Skills

This highly successful feature has been retained in the new edition. The boxed notes are integrated throughout the text to provide students with techniques for improving their study skills and succeeding in math courses.

Graphs, Charts, and Tables

When students encounter mathematics in real-world publications, they often encounter data represented in a graph, chart, or table and are asked to make a reasonable conclusion based on the data presented. This emphasis on graphical interpretation is a continuing trend with the expanding technology of our day. The number of mathematical problems based on charts, graphs, and tables has been significantly increased in this edition. Students are asked to make simple interpretations, to solve medium-level problems, and to investigate challenging applied problems based on the data shown in a chart, graph, or table.

New Design

The fifth edition has a new design that enhances the accessible, student-friendly writing style. This new design includes new chapter opening applications and an improved and enhanced art program. See the walkthrough of features in the preface.

Mastering Mathematical Concepts

Text features that develop the mastery of concepts include the following:

Learning Objectives

Concise learning objectives listed at the beginning of each section allow students to preview the goals of that section.

Examples and Exercises

The examples and exercises in this text have been carefully chosen to guide students through Beginning Algebra. We have incorporated several different types of exercises and examples to assist your students in retaining the content of this course.

Chapter Pretests

Each chapter opens with a concise pretest to familiarize the students with the learning objectives for that particular chapter. The problems are keyed to appropriate sections of the chapter. All answers appear in the back of the book.

Practice Problems

Practice problems are found throughout the chapter, after the examples, and are designed to provide your students with immediate practice of the skills presented. The complete worked-out solution of each practice problem appears in the back of the book.

To Think About

These critical thinking questions follow some of the examples in the text and also appear in the exercise sets. They extend the concept being taught, providing the opportunity for all students to stretch their minds, to look for patterns, and to make conclusions based on their previous experience. The new edition includes an increased number of these problems.

Exercise Sets

Exercise sets are paired and graded. This design helps ease the students into the problems, and the answers provide students with immediate feedback.

Cumulative Review Problems

Each exercise set concludes with a section of cumulative review problems. These problems review topics previously covered and are designed to assist students in retaining the material. Many additional applied problems have been added to the cumulative review sections.

Graphing and Scientific Calculator Problems

Calculator boxes are placed in the margin of the text to alert students to a scientific or graphing calculator application. In the exercise section, icons indicate problems ...

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