Intermediate Algebra: Concepts and Applications, 10th edition

A GUIDED LEARNING PATH

To enhance the learning process and improve learner outcomes, the Bittinger program provides a broad range of support for students and instructors. Each person can personalize his or her learning or teaching experience by accessing help when he or she needs it.

PREPARE: Studying the concepts

Students can learn about each math concept by reading the textbook or eText, watching the To-the-Point Objective videos, participating in class, working in the MyMathGuide workbook — or using whatever combination of these course resources works best for him or her.

• The Bittinger five-step problem-solving process helps students develop a consistent approach to setting up and solving problems:  (1) Familiarize, (2) Translate, (3) Carry out, (4) Check, and (5) State the answer. Repeated use of this problem-solving strategy throughout the text provides students with a starting point for any type of problem they encounter, and frees them to focus on the unique aspects of the particular problem.
• UPDATED! The body of the text has been enhanced to help students better build their skills and understand key underlying concepts. The exposition, examples, and exercises have been carefully reviewed and, as appropriate, revised or replaced. New content includes more systematic review and preparation for practice, as well as stronger focus on the real-world applications for the math.
• UPDATED! Interesting, contemporary applications of mathematics, many of which make use of real data, help motivate students and instructors. In this new edition, the authors have updated real-world data examples and exercises to include subjects such as renewable energy, graduate-school acceptance, and zipline rides.

PARTICIPATE: Making connections through active exploration

Knowing that developing a solid grasp of the big picture is a key to student success, the authors offer many opportunities for active learning to help students practice, review, and confirm their understanding of key concepts and skills. 

• Exploring the Concept, Algebraic-Graphical Connections, and optional Technology Connections encourage students to think about and visualize concepts.
• Connecting the Concepts summarize several sections, and are  followed by Mixed Review exercises, to help students understand how concepts work together.
• Student Notes and Study Skills are strategically located throughout the text.
• Chapter Resources are additional learning materials compiled at the end of each chapter, making them easy to integrate into the course at the most appropriate time. The mathematics necessary to use the resource has been presented by the end of the section indicated with each resource.
• Translating for Success and Visualizing for Success. These are matching exercises that help students learn to translate word problems to mathematical language and to graph equations and inequalities.
• Collaborative Activity. Students who work in groups generally outperform those who do not, so these optional activities direct them to explore mathematics together. Additional collaborative activities and suggestions for directing collaborative learning appear in the Instructor’s Resources Manual with Tests and Mini Lectures.
• Decision Making: Connection. Although many applications throughout the text involve decision- making situations, this feature specifically applies the math of each chapter to a context in which students may be involved in decision making.

PRACTICE: Reinforcing understanding

As students explore the math, they have frequent opportunities to practice, self-assess, and reinforce their understanding.

• Your Turn exercises appear after every example and direct students to work similar problems for immediate reinforcement of skills and concepts.
• NEW! Check Your Understanding offers students the chance to reflect on the concepts just discussed  before beginning the exercise set. Working problems and answering questions helps students focus on the key skills and concepts just learned.
• Mid-Chapter Reviews offer guided solutions and mixed review exercises.
• Study Summary gives a synopsis of key terms and concepts which are paired with worked-out examples and practice exercises.
• Chapter Review and Test provides a thorough chapter review and practice test.
• Cumulative Review helps students retain and apply their knowledge from previous chapters.

EXERCISE SETS

• Vocabulary and Reading Check exercises begin every exercise set.
• Concept Reinforcement exercises appearing near the beginning of exercise sets, build students’ comprehension through True/False, matching, and fill-in-the-blank exercises.
• Aha! exercises are designed to encourage students to “look before they leap," and they can be solved quickly without lengthy computation, if the student has the proper insight.
• Skill Review exercises review all major concepts covered previously, and often focus on a single topic from multiple perspectives. To solve the Synthesis exercises that follow, students will often need to use skills and concepts from earlier sections. This will help them develop  deeper insight into the current topic.
• Writing exercises appear just before the Skill Review exercises, and they aid comprehension by requiring students to use critical thinking to explain concepts in one or more complete sentences. 
• Quick Quiz at the end of exercise sets provides ongoing chapter  review and help students prepare for the chapter test.
• Prepare to Move On at the end of exercise sets reviews previously covered skills and concepts to prepare students  for the next section.
• Chapter Resources are compiled at the end of each chapter to make it easy to integrate into the course at the most appropriate time. They include: Decision Making: Connections to prepare students for math use in day-to-day life, along with Translating for Success, Visualizing for Success, and Collaborative Activities.

MyLab™ Math is an online homework, tutorial, and assessment program designed to work with this text to engage students and improve results. Within its structured environment, students practice what they learn, test their understanding, and pursue a personalized study plan that helps them absorb course material and understand difficult concepts.

Prepare and motivate students with resources that support personalized learning and conceptual understanding

• NEW! Skill Builder offers adaptive practice that is designed to increase students’ ability to complete their assignments. By monitoring student performance on their homework, Skill Builder adapts to each student’s needs and provides just-in-time, in-assignment practice to help them improve their proficiency of key learning objectives.
• NEW! Workspace Assignments allow students to work through an exercise step-by-step, adjusting to the path each student takes and allowing them to show their mathematical reasoning as they progress, receiving feedback when and where they need it most. When accessed via a mobile device, Workspace exercises use handwriting recognition software that allows students to naturally write out their answers with their fingertip or stylus.
• NEW! Student Success Module, available in the left-hand navigation of MyLab Math, includes videos, activities, and post-tests for these three student success areas:
• Study Skills, including “Time Management” and “Preparing for and Taking Exams,” and College Success, including “College Transition” and “Online Learning.”
• Active Learning Figures are interactive animations available in MyLab Math. They allow students to examine visual representations of concepts through both guided and open-ended exploration to further solidify their understanding of these concepts. 
• MyMathGuide: Notes, Practice, and Video Path is an objective-based workbook (available in print and in MyLab Math) for guided, hands-on learning. It offers vocabulary, skill, and concept review—along with problem-solving practice—with space for students to show their work and write notes. Students can follow along in MyMathGuide while they watch the new To-the-Point Objective Videos, listen to their instructor lecture, or read the textbook.