When Are We Ever Going To Use This Stuff?: College Mathematics for the Liberal Arts Major

When Are We Ever Going to Use This Stuff? College Mathematics for the Liberal Arts Major is a college level mathematics textbook designed with liberal arts majors in mind. This text uses practical, entertaining topics presented in a readable, student-centered style to teach mathematics concepts and skills for the non-STEM major.

While emphasizing practical application over symbolic manipulation, students learn where, when, why, and how the math they learn will help them in their lives. Specific topics include consumer math, apportionment, statistics, probability, set theory, geometry, right triangle trigonometry, and voting techniques, with the history of mathematics as a consistent motivational thread throughout. Concepts are taught within familiar contexts with a focus on the development of problem-solving skills.

The eighth edition features a few new historical topics and additional readings in each chapter, updated examples to make the material more relevant, and "From a Different Point of View" sections throughout to emphasize alternative perspectives. To help students and teachers cope with the emerging national trend of reducing or eliminating prerequisite courses, a significant number of review passages have been woven throughout the material.

Jim Matovina earned his M.S. in mathematics and a post-baccalaureate certificate in statistics at Purdue University Calumet. He teaches at the College of Southern Nevada, where he has also served as chair of the math department, as well as the department's webmaster.

Ronald Yates is a professor of mathematics at the College of Southern Nevada. He earned his M.S. in mathematics at Montana State University and a Ph.D. in higher education leadership from the University of the Cumberlands. Outside of teaching, he serves as an alumni advisor for the Sigma Chi Fraternity.