[Book Cover]

College Algebra: A Graphing Approach, 1/e

Dale Varberg, Hamline University
Thomas D. Varberg, Macalester College

Published August, 1995 by Prentice Hall Engineering/Science/Mathematics

Copyright 1996, 399 pp.
Cloth
ISBN 0-13-381567-6


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Summary

This first in a series of three texts covers the traditional topics for College Algebra with a unique emphasis on concepts that are valuable to other courses or other applications, especially those that can be explored and illustrated on a graphics calculator. It de-emphasizes the more manipulative skills in favor of visualization, graphing, data analysis, an modeling of problems from the physical world.

Features


makes mathematics come alive, using the graphics calculator to study functions in-depth, including...

  • finding their zeros.
  • discovering where they increase and decrease.
  • identifying their maxima and minima.
  • analyzing their asymptotic behavior.
  • calculating their rates of change.
  • viewing the graphs of several functions at once.
  • finding their points of intersection.
  • discovering where one is larger than another.
  • visualizing motion by watching graphs generated in real-time through parametric representation.
constructs a problem-solving framework composed of...
  • Teasers—section-opening problems that entice students to seek solutions.
  • section-ending problem sets divided into two parts—Part A (Skills and Techniques) offers simpler problem pairs which follow the text and its examples closely; and Part B (Applications and Extensions)—includes a variety of more demanding problems that make use of the skills learned in Part A in the broad context of mathematical, scientific and business applications.
provides special labels for difficult (Challenge) or skill- developing/experimentation problems and projects.
offers many options for instructors to custom-tailor the text's organization to suit their particular course objectives.
introduces programming of graphics calculators in the last chapter where it fits naturally with sequences and series.


Table of Contents
(NOTE: A Review Problem Set concludes each chapter.)
    1. Numbers, Calculations and Basic Algebra.

      The Integers and the Rational Numbers. Real Numbers and their Properties. Order and Averages. Exponents and their Properties. Polynomials and their Factors. Rational Expressions. The Complex Numbers.

    2. Equations and Inequalities.

      Solving Equations Algebraically. Equations and Applications. Displaying Equations Geometrically. Graphs with Graphics Calculators. Inequalities and Absolute Values. Lines. Some Important Quadratic Curves. Linear Regression.

    3. Functions and Their Graphs.

      The Function Concept. Linear Functions. Quadratic Functions. More on Graphics Calculators. Polynomial Functions. Rational Functions. Combinations of Functions. Inverse Functions. Special Functions.

    4. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions.

      Exponential Functions. Logarithms and Logarithmic Functions. Scientific Applications. Business Applications. Nonlinear Regression.

    5. Systems of Equations and Inequalities.

      Equivalent Systems of Equations. Solving Systems Using Matrices. The Algebra of Matrices. Inverses of Matrices. Determinants. Systems of Inequalities.

    6. Sequences, Counting and Probability.

      Arithmetic Sequences and Sums. Geometric Sequences and Sums. General Sequences and Programming. Mathematical Induction. The Binomial Formula. Counting Ordered Arrangements. Counting Unordered Collections. Introduction to Probablility. Independence in Probability Problems.

    Answers to Selected Problems.
    Index.

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