Beginning & Intermediate Algebra, 6th edition

Published by Pearson (March 9, 2021) © 2022

  • John Tobey North Shore Community College
  • Jeffrey Slater North Shore Community College
  • Jamie Blair Orange Coast College
  • Jennifer Crawford Normandale Community College
  • Anne Fischer Tulsa Community College

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For courses in Beginning & Intermediate Algebra.

With students and instructors every step of the way

The building-block organization of Beginning & Intermediate Algebra builds essential skills by breaking mathematics into manageable pieces. The authors act as a student's math coach, supporting them at every turn with exercises, videos and examples built specifically to help with the trickiest problems. Emphasis on the use of math in careers and financial literacy helps to answer the perennial student question: “when will I ever use this?” The 6th Edition updates applications and examples, increasing student support and resources to help instructors take advantage of the learning tools offered.

Hallmark features of this title

  • Student Practice problems are paired with every example; full solutions are found in the back of the text.
  • Steps to Success boxes remind students of important strategies, with topics like why homework is important and setting an assignment work schedule.
  • End-of-Section Exercises progress from basic to challenging; each exercise set includes Verbal and Writing Skills and Mixed Practice exercises. 
  • A Quick Quiz at the end of each exercise set contains 3 problems.
  • Career Explorations investigate future career options. Each chapter starts with a Career Opportunities feature that puts the math into context and ends with Career Exploration Problems.
  • Use Math to Save Money gives practical examples of how students can use math to cut costs and spend less. 

New and updated features of this title

  • Updated examples, applications and exercises include the most current data and real-world contexts.
  • Updated Applications exercises and examples throughout relate to everyday life, global issues beyond the borders of the U.S., and other academic disciplines.
  • Revised Exercises and Mixed Practice problems give students sufficient practice on all objectives. All concepts are fully represented, with every Example from the section covered by a group of exercises. The Mixed Practice problems ask students to identify the type of problem and the best method to solve it. 
  • New Steps to Success Index appears before the text's Table of Contents, highlighting study skills to help students successfully complete the course. The Steps to Success features remind students of important strategies they can employ to be successful, such as making a schedule of when to complete assignments. This new index encourages them to make use of these strategies easily. 
  • A new hardback bound text in this edition (from a workbook style) is more durable for students. Students are encouraged to write in a course notebook rather than in the text itself.

Features of MyLab Math for the 6th Edition

  • Integrated Review in MyLab embeds prerequisite skills at the chapter level. Students diagnose what prerequisite skills they may be lacking with a prebuilt Skills Check quiz, and videos and worksheets are available for remediation.
  • Premade sample video assignments help instructors take advantage of the Guided Learning Videos to enrich students' understanding of concepts.
    • Guided Learning Videos cover key concepts from each section in a fresh, engaging format. These sample video assignments include applicable end-of-section exercises for students to work after watching the videos. 
  • Other types of media to enrich student learning include Use Math to Save Money animations, showcasing the application of math for financial decisions in real life, and Math Coach videos, acting as a student's tutor on tricky problems.
  • An Implementation Guide includes suggestions on how to optimize the use of the MyLab Math course and text. A corresponding Implementation Guidevideo provided by the author team guides instructors through each supporting element of the program, with teaching tips for using them in different modes of learning. 
  • Expanded exercise coverage now includes select even exercises in addition to the odds from end-of-section exercise sets.

Preface

Diagnostic Pretest

0. Prealgebra Review

  • Career Opportunities
  • 0.1 Simplifying Fractions
  • 0.2 Adding and Subtracting Fractions
  • 0.3 Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
  • 0.4 Using Decimals Use Math to Save Money
  • 0.5 Percents, Rounding, and Estimating
  • 0.6 Using the Mathematics Blueprint for Problem Solving Career Exploration Problems
  • Chapter 0 Organizer
  • Chapter 0 Review Problems
  • How Am I Doing? Chapter 0 Test
  • Math Coach

1. Real Numbers and Variables

  • Career Opportunities
  • 1.1 Adding Real Numbers
  • 1.2 Subtracting Real Numbers
  • 1.3 Multiplying and Dividing Real Numbers
  • 1.4 Exponents
  • 1.5 The Order of Operations Use Math to Save Money
  • 1.6 Using the Distributive Property to Simplify Algebraic Expressions
  • 1.7 Combining Like Terms
  • 1.8 Using Substitution to Evaluate Algebraic Expressions and Formulas
  • 1.9 Grouping Symbols Career Exploration Problems
  • Chapter 1 Organizer
  • Chapter 1 Review Problems
  • How Am I Doing? Chapter 1 Test
  • Math Coach

2. Equations, Inequalities, and Applications

  • Career Opportunities
  • 2.1 The Addition Principle of Equality
  • 2.2 The Multiplication Principle of Equality
  • 2.3 Using the Addition and Multiplication Principles Together
  • 2.4 Solving Equations with Fractions Use Math to Save Money
  • 2.5 Translating English Phrases into Algebraic Expressions
  • 2.6 Using Equations to Solve Word Problems
  • 2.7 Solving Word Problems: The Value of Money and Percents
  • 2.8 Solving Inequalities in One Variable Career Exploration Problems
  • Chapter 2 Organizer
  • Chapter 2 Review Problems
  • How Am I Doing? Chapter 2 Test
  • Math Coach

3. Graphing and Functions

  • Career Opportunities
  • 3.1 The Rectangular Coordinate System
  • 3.2 Graphing Linear Equations
  • 3.3 The Slope of a Line Use Math to Save Money
  • 3.4 Writing the Equation of a Line
  • 3.5 Graphing Linear Inequalities
  • 3.6 Functions Career Exploration Problems
  • Chapter 3 Organizer
  • Chapter 3 Review Problems
  • How Am I Doing? Chapter 3 Test
  • Math Coach
  • Cumulative Test for Chapters 0-3

4. Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities

  • Career Opportunities
  • 4.1 Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables
  • 4.2 Systems of Linear Equations in Three Variables Use Math to Save Money
  • 4.3 Applications of Systems of Linear Equations
  • 4.4 Systems of Linear Inequalities Career Exploration Problems
  • Chapter 4 Organizer
  • Chapter 4 Review Problems
  • How Am I Doing? Chapter 4 Test
  • Math Coach

5. Exponents and Polynomials

  • Career Opportunities
  • 5.1 The Rules of Exponents
  • 5.2 Negative Exponents and Scientific Notation
  • 5.3 Fundamental Polynomial Operations Use Math to Save Money
  • 5.4 Multiplying Polynomials
  • 5.5 Multiplication: Special Cases
  • 5.6 Dividing Polynomials Career Exploration Problems
  • Chapter 5 Organizer
  • Chapter 5 Review Problems
  • How Am I Doing? Chapter 5 Test
  • Math Coach

6. Factoring

  • Career Opportunities
  • 6.1 Removing a Common Factor
  • 6.2 Factoring by Grouping
  • 6.3 Factoring Trinomials of the Form x2 + bx + c
  • 6.4 Factoring Trinomials of the Form ax2 + bx + c Use Math to Save Money
  • 6.5 Special Cases of Factoring
  • 6.6 A Brief Review of Factoring
  • 6.7 Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring Career Exploration Problems
  • Chapter 6 Organizer
  • Chapter 6 Review Problems
  • How Am I Doing? Chapter 6 Test
  • Math Coach
  • Cumulative Test for Chapters 0-6

7. Rational Expressions and Equations

  • Career Opportunities
  • 7.1 Simplifying Rational Expressions
  • 7.2 Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions
  • 7.3 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions Use Math to Save Money
  • 7.4 Simplifying Complex Rational Expressions
  • 7.5 Solving Equations Involving Rational Expressions
  • 7.6 Ratio, Proportion, and Other Applied Problems Career Exploration Problems
  • Chapter 7 Organizer
  • Chapter 7 Review Problems
  • How Am I Doing? Chapter 7 Test
  • Math Coach

T. A Transition from Beginning to Intermediate Algebra

  • T.1 Integer Exponents, Square Roots, Order of Operations, and Scientific Notation
  • T.2 Polynomial Operations
  • T.3 Factoring Polynomials
  • T.4 Special Cases of Factoring
  • T.5 The Point-Slope Form of a Line

8. Rational Exponents and Radicals

  • Career Opportunities
  • 8.1 Rational Exponents
  • 8.2 Radical Expressions and Functions
  • 8.3 Simplifying, Adding, and Subtracting Radicals
  • 8.4 Multiplying and Dividing Radicals Use Math to Save Money
  • 8.5 Radical Equations
  • 8.6 Complex Numbers
  • 8.7 Variation Career Exploration Problems
  • Chapter 8 Organizer
  • Chapter 8 Review Problems
  • How Am I Doing? Chapter 8 Test
  • Math Coach

9. Quadratic Equations and Inequalities

  • Career Opportunities
  • 9.1 Quadratic Equations
  • 9.2 The Quadratic Formula and Solutions to Quadratic Equations
  • 9.3 Equations That Can Be Transformed into Quadratic Form Use Math to Save Money
  • 9.4 Formulas and Applications
  • 9.5 Quadratic Functions
  • 9.6 Compound and Quadratic Inequalities
  • 9.7 Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities Career Exploration Problems
  • Chapter 9 Organizer
  • Chapter 9 Review Problems
  • How Am I Doing? Chapter 9 Test
  • Math Coach
  • Cumulative Test for Chapters 0-9

10. The Conic Sections

  • Career Opportunities
  • 10.1 The Distance Formula and the Circle
  • 10.2 The Parabola
  • 10.3 The Ellipse Use Math to Save Money
  • 10.4 The Hyperbola
  • 10.5 Nonlinear Systems of Equations Career Exploration Problems
  • Chapter 10 Organizer
  • Chapter 10 Review Problems
  • How Am I Doing? Chapter 10 Test
  • Math Coach

11. Additional Properties of Functions

  • Career Opportunities
  • 11.1 Function Notation
  • 11.2 General Graphing Procedures for Functions Use Math to Save Money
  • 11.3 Algebraic Operations on Functions
  • 11.4 Inverse of a Function Career Exploration Problems
  • Chapter 11 Organizer
  • Chapter 11 Review Problems
  • How Am I Doing? Chapter 11 Test
  • Math Coach

12. Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

  • Career Opportunities
  • 12.1 The Exponential Function
  • 12.2 The Logarithmic Function
  • 12.3 Properties of Logarithms Use Math to Save Money
  • 12.4 Common Logarithms, Natural Logarithms, and Change of Base of Logarithms
  • 12.5 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations Career Exploration Problems
  • Chapter 12 Organizer
  • Chapter 12 Review Problems
  • How Am I Doing? Chapter 12 Test
  • Math Coach
  • Practice Final Examination

Appendices

  • A: Practice with Operations of Whole Numbers
  • B: Determinants and Cramer's Rule
  • C: Solving Systems of Linear Equations Using Matrices
  • D: Sets

Solutions to Student Practice Problems

Answers to Selected Exercises

Beginning and Intermediate Algebra Glossary

Photo Credits

Subject Index

Index of Applications

About our authors

John Tobey received his BA in mathematics from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois in 1965, his MA in mathematics education from Harvard University in 1966, and his PhD in mathematics education from Boston University in 1980. He has taught in the mathematics department at the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as the Mathematics Department Chairman at North Shore Community College in Danvers, Massachusetts for 5 years. John has served as the president of the New England Mathematics Association of Two-Year Colleges. He has received the NISOD award for outstanding teaching from the University of Texas at Austin. John is the author of 7 mathematics books published by Pearson Education. John has spoken to many mathematics departments and at many professional meetings throughout the country on the topic of developmental mathematics education and distance learning in mathematics. He lives in Massachusetts. 

Jeffrey Slater has been a professor at North Shore Community College for 38 years and received the Teacher of the Year award in 2002. Jeff travels around the country speaking on student retention and is also a consultant to the Federal Government. He lives in Lexington, Massachusetts with his wife Shelley and his yellow lab Gracie. 

Jamie Blair has directed the Mathematics Learning Center at Orange Coast College for the past 17 years. She designed, developed and implemented the center, and as a result of this effort has provided technical expertise related to the particulars of the Math Center to numerous other 2-year colleges and at many conferences. In 2007, Jamie was appointed to the Team of Basic Skills Specialists by the California State Academic Senate. She is also currently participating on Title 3 committees on her campus. She specializes in teaching students who have never been successful in mathematics. She is an expert in the area of basic skills in relation to the learning needs of students. She lives in California. 

Jennifer Crawford received her BS in mathematics from the University of Minnesota - Duluth in 1995 and her MS in mathematics from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in 1998. She taught a wide range of courses at North Shore Community College in Danvers, Massachusetts for 5 years. She currently teaches at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota, where her focus is working with developmental math students. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her husband, 2 young children, and black lab. 

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