Understanding Elementary Algebra with Geometry: A Course for College Students (with CD-ROM, Make the Grade, and InfoTrac)

Helping students grasp the "why" of algebra through patient explanations, Hirsch and Goodman gradually build students' confidence without sacrificing rigor. To help students move beyond the "how" of algebra (computational proficiency) to the "why" (conceptual understanding), the authors introduce topics at an elementary level and return to them at increasing levels of complexity. Their gradual introduction of concepts, rules, and definitions through a wealth of illustrative examples-both numerical and algebraic-helps students compare and contrast related ideas and understand the sometimes-subtle distinctions among a wide variety of situations. This author team carefully prepares students to succeed in higher level mathematics.

Lewis Hirsch (Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University) currently teaches in the mathematics department at Rutgers University. Dr. Hirsch teaches both developmental mathematics and higher level courses such as college algebra and pre-calculus. His experiences in the classroom make him committed to properly preparing students in lower-level courses so they can succeed in for credit courses, and this is reflected in the way he writes his textbooks.

Dr. Arthur Goodman (Ph.D., Yeshiva University) currently teaches in the mathematics department at Queens College of the City University of New York. Dr. Goodman takes great pride in the mathematical accuracy and in depth explanation in all of his textbooks.