Beginning and Intermediate Algebra with Applications and Visualization

Beginning and Intermediate Algebra with Applications and Visualization offers an innovative approach to the beginning and intermediate algebra curriculum that allows students to gain both skills and understanding. This text not only prepares students for future mathematics courses, but it also demonstrates to students the relevance of mathematics. This approach increases student interest, motivation, and the likelihood for success. Many students think in visual, concrete terms and not abstractly. This text helps students learn mathematics better by moving from the concrete to the abstract. It makes use of multiple representations (verbal, graphical, numerical, and symbolic), applications, visualization, and technology.

Gary Rockswold has been a professor and teacher of mathematics, computer science, astronomy, and physical science for over 35 years. Not only has he taught at the undergraduate and graduate college levels, but he has also taught middle school, high school, vocational school, and adult education. He received his BA degree with majors in mathematics and physics from St. Olaf College and his PhD in applied mathematics from Iowa State University. He has been a principal investigator at the Minnesota Supercomputer Institute, publishing research articles in numerical analysis and parallel processing. He is currently an emeritus professor of mathematics at Minnesota State University–Mankato. He is an author for Pearson Education and has numerous textbooks at the developmental and precalculus levels. Making mathematics accessible to students and professing the power of mathematics are special passions for Gary. He frequently gives keynote and invited addresses at regional, national, and international math conferences. In his spare time he enjoys sailing, doing yoga, hiking, and spending time with his family.

 

Terry Krieger has taught mathematics for over 20 years at the middle school, high school, vocational, community college, and university levels. His undergraduate degree in secondary education is from Bemidji State University in Minnesota, where he graduated summa cum laude. He received his MA in mathematics from Minnesota State University–Mankato. In addition to his teaching experience in the United States, Terry has taught mathematics in Tasmania, Australia, and in a rural school in Swaziland, Africa, where he served as a Peace Corps volunteer. Terry has been involved with various aspects of mathematics textbook publication throughout his career. In his free time, Terry enjoys spending time with his wife and two boys, physical fitness, wilderness camping, and trout fishing.