Precalculus: Concepts Through Functions

This new text embodies Sullivan/Sullivan’s hallmarks —  accuracy, precision, depth, strong student support, and abundant exercises while exposing students early (Chapter One) to the study of functions and taking a right triangle approach to trigonometry. "IT WORKS" for instructors and students because it focuses students on the fundamentals: preparing for class, practicing their homework, and reviewing. After completing the book, students will be prepared to handle the algebra found in subsequent courses such as finite mathematics, business mathematics, and engineering calculus and will have a solid understanding of the concept of a function.

Mike Sullivan Professor of Mathematics at Chicago State University received a Ph.D. in mathematics from Illinois Institute of Technology. Mike has taught at Chicago State for over 30 years. He is a native of Chicago’s South Side and currently resides in Oaklawn.  Mike has four children.  The two oldest have degrees in mathematics and assisted in proofing, checking examples and exercises, and writing solutions manuals for this project.  Mike III co-authored the Sullivan Graphing with Data Analysis series as well as this series.  Dan, the youngest, sells for Prentice Hall as a generalist.

 

Mike has authored or co-authored over ten books.  He owns a travel agency, and splits his time between a condo in Naples, Florida and a home in Oaklawn, where Mike enjoys gardening.  Mike first signed this series with Deleen Publishing (Acquired by Macmillan) in 1985.

 

Mike Sullivan III is a professor of mathematics at Joliet Junior College. He holds graduate degrees from DePaul University in both mathematics and economics. Mike is an author or co-author on more than 20 books, including a statistics book and a developmental mathematics series. Mike is the father of three children and an avid golfer who tries to spend as much of his limited free time as possible on the golf course.

 

Why We Wrote the Book:

 

Work on this series began with a unique perspective.  Teaching at a large urban institution and a smaller two-year college has allowed us to see firsthand the challenges associated with teaching students with diverse backgrounds in an urban setting.  Successful textbooks must be accessible to students.  As lead author of this series, one of the most important things I bring to the project is my experience as author of a successful calculus text.  Mike and I are both aware that students must be prepared in a Precalculus course for subsequent mathematics courses.  We also realize that many College Algebra students will not be going on to take upper level math courses.  In this series we resolved the seeming dilemma without sacrificing accessibility.

 

The books in this series are designed to be mathematically comprehensive and to provide substantial mathematical preparation for subsequent courses.  At the same time, great effort has been expended to motivate the material and to make it accessible to even poorly prepared students.