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Basic College Mathematics, 6th edition

Published by Pearson (January 3, 2018) © 2019

  • Elayn Martin-Gay University of New Orleans, Lakefront

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For courses in Basic Mathematics. 

Every student can succeed

The Martin-Gay series offers market-leading content written by a preeminent author-educator. Elayn Martin-Gay's student-centric approach is woven seamlessly throughout Basic College Mathematics, providing optimal support through her accessible writing and built-in study skills resources. Chapter Test Prep videos and a Video Organizer note-taking guide encourage student success. Expanded resources in the 6th Edition bring even more updates to her program, all shaped by her student-focused perspective that makes her course materials beloved by students and instructors alike.

Hallmark features of this title

  • Study skills resources: 
    • Section 1.1, Tips for Success in Mathematics, in which Elayn covers important strategies for success with videos for each objective.  
    • Student Resources section with Study Skill Builders, a Study Guide Outline and Practice Final Exam.  
  • Helpful Hints help students avoid common trouble areas. Detailed step-by-step examples and practice margin exercises paired with each example encourage students to participate in the learning.  
  • Concept Checks throughout the section allow students to gauge their grasp of an idea as it is presented. 
  • Integrated Review mid-chapter exercise sets provide students with mixed review, giving them the chance to assimilate new concepts they've learned over several sections.  

New and updated features of this title

  • New Getting Ready for the Test exercises precede each Chapter Test to check students' conceptual understanding of the topics in the chapter.  
    • These multiple-choice or matching questions not only check for understanding, but also aim to catch common errors.  
    • Noted in blue in the Annotated Instructor's Edition, Video Solutions for all exercises and premade Learning Catalytics questions for exercises accompany these exercises. 
  • Exercise sets and applications have been refined and updated where appropriate.
  • The new Key Concept and Activity Lab Workbook is a great way to engage students in conceptual projects and exploration, as well as group work. The Workbook includes Extension Exercises, Exploration Activities, Conceptual Exercises and Group Activities. 

Features of MyLab Math for the 6th Edition

  • Getting Ready for the Test video solutions cover the Getting Ready for the Test exercises in the text, and contain brief explanations and reminders of material in the chapter. Where applicable, incorrect choices contain explanations. 
  • Learning Catalytics is now available. This interactive student response tool uses students' smartphones, tablets or laptops to engage them in more sophisticated tasks and thinking. 
  • Skill Builder assignments offer adaptive practice that is designed to increase students' ability to complete their assignments. 
  • All Vocabulary, Readiness and Video Check questions in the text are now assignable in MyLab Math.  
    • Vocabulary, Readiness and Video Check questions precede each section's exercise set to check students' understanding of the section they've just covered, or that they've truly watched the section video that was assigned. 
    • The Vocabulary and Readiness Check questions are also now available in a Drag and Drop format, giving students a more interactive way to answer these questions. 
  1. The Whole Numbers
    • 1.1 Study Skill Tips for Success in Mathematics
    • 1.2 Place Value, Names for Numbers, and Reading Tables
    • 1.3 Adding Whole Numbers and Perimeter
    • 1.4 Subtracting Whole Numbers
    • 1.5 Rounding and Estimating
    • 1.6 Multiplying Whole Numbers and Area
    • 1.7 Dividing Whole Numbers
      • Integrated Review—Operations on Whole Numbers
    • 1.8 An Introduction to Problem Solving
    • 1.9 Exponents, Square Roots, and Order of Operations
  2. Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
    • 2.1 Introduction to Fractions and Mixed Numbers
    • 2.2 Factors and Prime Factorization
    • 2.3 Simplest Form of a Fraction
      • Integrated Review—Summary on Fractions, Mixed Numbers, and Factors
    • 2.4 Multiplying Fractions and Mixed Numbers
    • 2.5 Dividing Fractions and Mixed Numbers
  3. Adding and Subtracting Fractions
    • 3.1 Adding and Subtracting Like Fractions
    • 3.2 Least Common Multiple
    • 3.3 Adding and Subtracting Unlike Fractions
      • Integrated Review—Operations on Fractions and Mixed Numbers
    • 3.4 Adding and Subtracting Mixed Numbers
    • 3.5 Order, Exponents, and the Order of Operations
    • 3.6 Fractions and Problem Solving
  4. Decimals
    • 4.1 Introduction to Decimals
    • 4.2 Order and Rounding
    • 4.3 Adding and Subtracting Decimals
    • 4.4 Multiplying Decimals and Circumference of a Circle
      • Integrated Review—Operations on Decimals
    • 4.5 Dividing Decimals and Order of Operations
    • 4.6 Fractions and Decimals
  5. Ratio and Proportion
    • 5.1 Ratios
    • 5.2 Rates
      • Integrated Review— Ratio and Rate
    • 5.3 Proportions
    • 5.4 Proportions and Problem Solving
  6. Percent
    • 6.1 Introduction to Percent
    • 6.2 Percents and Fractions
    • 6.3 Solving Percent Problems Using Equations
    • 6.4 Solving Percent Problems Using Proportions
      • Integrated Review—Percent and Percent Problems
    • 6.5 Applications of Percent
    • 6.6 Percent and Problem Solving: Sales Tax, Commission, and Discount
    • 6.7 Percent and Problem Solving: Interest
  7. Measurement
    • 7.1 Length: U.S. and Metric Systems of Measurement
    • 7.2 Weight and Mass: U.S. and Metric Systems of Measurement
    • 7.3 Capacity: U.S. and Metric Systems of Measurement
      • Integrated Review—Length, Weight, and Capacity
    • 7.4 Conversions Between the U.S. and Metric Systems
    • 7.5 Temperature: U.S. and Metric Systems of Measurement
    • 7.6 Energy: U.S. and Metric Systems of Measurement
  8. Geometry
    • 8.1 Lines and Angles
    • 8.2 Plane Figures and Solids
    • 8.3 Perimeter
    • 8.4 Area
    • 8.5 Volume
      • Integrated Review—Geometry Concepts
    • 8.6 Square Roots and the Pythagorean Theorem
    • 8.7 Congruent and Similar Triangles
  9. Reading Graphs and Introduction to Statistics and Probability
    • 9.1 Pictographs, Bar Graphs, Histograms, and Line Graphs
    • 9.2 Circle Graphs
      • Integrated Review—Reading Graphs
    • 9.3 Mean, Median, Mode, and Range
    • 9.4 Counting and Introduction to Probability
  10. Signed Numbers
    • 10.1 Signed Numbers
    • 10.2 Adding Signed Numbers
    • 10.3 Subtracting Signed Numbers
      • Integrated Review—Signed Numbers
    • 10.4 Multiplying and Dividing Signed Numbers
    • 10.5 Order of Operations
  11. Introduction to Algebra
    • 11.1 Introduction to Variables
    • 11.2 Solving Equations: The Addition Property
    • 11.3 Solving Equations: The Multiplication Property
      • Integrated Review—Expressions and Equations
    • 11.4 Solving Equations Using Addition and Multiplication Properties
    • 11.5 Equations and Problem Solving

Appendix A: Tables

  • A.1 Addition Table and One Hundred Addition Facts
  • A.2 Multiplication Table and One Hundred Multiplication Facts
  • A.3 Table of Geometric Figures
  • A.4 Table of Percents, Decimals, and Fraction Equivalents
  • A.5 Table on Finding Common Percents of a Number
  • A.6 Table of Squares and Square Roots
  • A.7 Compound Interest Table

Appendix B: Unit Analysis

Student Resources

  • Study Skills Builders
  • Bigger Picture—Study Guide Outline
  • Practice Final Exam

About our author

Elayn Martin-Gay has taught mathematics at the University of New Orleans for more than 25 years. Her numerous teaching awards include the local University Alumni Association's Award for Excellence in Teaching, and Outstanding Developmental Educator at University of New Orleans, presented by the Louisiana Association of Developmental Educators.

Prior to writing textbooks, Elayn Martin-Gay developed an acclaimed series of lecture videos to support developmental mathematics students. These highly successful videos originally served as the foundation materials for her texts. Today, the videos are specific to each book in her series. She has also created Chapter Test Prep Videos to help students during their most “teachable moment” (as they prepare for a test) along with Instructor-to-Instructor videos that provide teaching tips, hints, and suggestions for every developmental mathematics course, including basic mathematics, prealgebra, beginning algebra, and intermediate algebra.

Elayn is the author of 13 published textbooks and a new Interactive Assignment MyLab® Math course, all specializing in developmental mathematics courses. She has also published series in Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry. She has participated as an author across the broadest range of educational materials: textbooks, videos, tutorial software, and courseware. This provides an opportunity of various combinations for an integrated teaching and learning package offering great consistency for the student.

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