Designed for first-year developmental students who need support in intermediate algebra, the Fourth Edition of Intermediate Algebra retains the hallmark features for which the Larson team is known: abundant, high-quality applications; the use of real data; the integration of visualization (figures and graphs) throughout; and extensive opportunities for self-assessment (mid-chapter quizzes, review exercises, tests, and cumulative tests). In developing supportive features for the Fourth Edition, the authors' goal is for students to come away from the class with a firm understanding of algebra and how it functions as a modern modeling language.
- What You Should Learn orients students to each section by listing the main objectives.
- Why You Should Learn It provides a motivational explanation for learning the given objectives.
- What Did You Learn? following each chapter highlights key mathematical terms and concepts. For easy reference, Key Terms are correlated to the chapter by page number, while Key Concepts are correlated by section number.
- Integrated Review Exercises appear before section exercises in every section. They offer a review of skills, definitions, and problem solving from previous chapters.
- Eduspace, powered by Blackboard, for the Larson/Hostetler Intermediate Algebra course features algorithmic exercises, test bank content in question pools, an online study guide, interactive tutorials for appropriate sections and video explanations.
Dr. Ron Larson is a professor of Mathematics at The Pennsylvania State University, where he has taught since 1970. He is considered the pioneer of using multimedia to enhance the learning of Mathematics, having authored over 30 software titles since 1990. Dr. Larson conducts seminars and in-service workshops for math educators around the country about using computer technology as an instructional tool and motivational aid. He is the recipient of the 2014 William Holmes McGuffey Longevity Award for CALCULUS: EARLY TRANSCENDENTAL FUNCTIONS, the 2014 Text and Academic Authors Association TEXTY Award for PRECALCULUS, the 2012 William Holmes McGuffey Longevity Award for CALCULUS: AN APPLIED APPROACH, and the 1996 Text and Academic Authors Association TEXTY Award for INTERACTIVE CALCULUS--a complete text on CD-ROM that was the first mainstream college textbook to be offered on the internet. Dr. Larson authors numerous textbooks including the best-selling Calculus series published by Cengage.
The Pennsylvania State University, The Behrend College Bio: Robert P. Hostetler received his Ph.D. in mathematics from The Pennsylvania State University in 1970. He has taught at Penn State for many years and has authored several calculus, precalculus, and intermediate algebra textbooks. His teaching specialties include remedial algebra, calculus, and math education, and his research interests include mathematics education and textbooks.