Introductory algebra for college students

Synopsis

Introductory Algebra for College Students,Fourth Edition, provides comprehensive, in-depth coverage of the topics required in a one-term course in beginning or introductory algebra. The book is written for college students who have no previous experience in algebra and for those who need a review of basic algebraic concepts. I wrote the book to help diverse students, with different backgrounds and career plans, to succeed in beginning algebra.Introductory Algebra for College Students,Fourth Edition, has two primary goals: 1. To help students acquire a solid foundation in the basic skills of algebra. 2. To show students how algebra can model and solve authentic real-world problems. One major obstacle in the way of achieving these goals is the fact that very few students actually read their textbook. This has been a regular source of frustration fro me and my colleagues in the classroom. Anecdotal evidence gathered over years highlights two basic reasons why students do not take advantage of their textbook: “I'll never use this information.” “I can't follow the explanations.” I've written every page of the Fourth Edition with the intent of eliminating these two objectives. The ideas and tools I've used to do so are described in the features that follow. These features and their benefits are highlighted for the student in “A Brief Guide to Getting the Most from this Book” that appears inside the front cover.