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College Algebra in Context with Applications for the Managerial, Life, and Social Sciences, 6th edition

Published by Pearson (January 15, 2020) © 2021

  • Ronald J. Harshbarger University of South Carolina - Beaufort
  • Lisa S. Yocco East Georgia State College

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For courses in College Algebra.

Mathematics from classroom to career

College Algebra in Context with Applications for the Managerial, Life, and Social Sciences emphasizes problem solving in meaningful settings. The authors use modeling, applications and real-data problems to develop the skills students will need to become adept problem solvers in their future courses and careers. In the 6th Edition, the Algebra Toolbox feature has been strengthened and expanded to reflect corequisite course content; new Preparing for Calculus sections in Chapters 1-6 provide problems that demonstrate how students can use their new knowledge in a calculus course.

Hallmark features of this title

  • Real-data applications  reflect recent economic and financial changes, preparing students to solve problems in future courses and varied careers.
    • Each section begins with a motivational problem. Special business and finance models demonstrate the applications of functions to the business world.
    • Group Activities and Extended Applications encourage communication skills and collaborative learning.
  • Key Concepts at the start of every section reflect the order and organization of the material in the chapter reviews.
  • Skills Check problems before exercise sets help students gauge their understanding of concepts needed for their homework.
  • Exercise sets test student comprehension, incorporating algebraic skills covered in the Skills Check with application problems.

New and updated features of this title

  • More than 250 problems have been replaced with new or updated problems to keep the real-data applications current.
  • Preparing for Calculus sections have been added before the Chapter Summaries in Chapters 1 through 6. These sections present approximately 100 problems that use skills from each chapter in calculus contexts, to demonstrate the importance of algebra for those who will be taking calculus.
  • Additional modeling problems that involve decision making and critical thinking have been added throughout the text.
  • Chapter Toolboxes have been expanded and strengthened to reflect corequisite course content, with more than 80 new exercises. Additional topics include calculations with and properties of real numbers; operations with fractions; evaluating algebraic expressions; solving basic linear equations; evaluating formulas for given values; operations with radicals, and more.
  • More specific Excel steps have been added within the Spreadsheet Solutions in the text, with references to Appendix B for more details. Specific steps for additional topics have been added to Appendix B.
  • Discussion of loan amortization using graphing calculators has been added to Chapter 5, and the detailed steps for solving loan amortization problems with graphing calculators have been added to Appendix A.

Features of MyLab Math for the 6th Edition

  • Personal Assessment Inventories offer a collection of online activities designed to promote self-reflection and engagement in students.
  • Mindset videos and assignable, open-ended exercises foster a growth mindset in students.  This material encourages them to maintain a positive attitude about learning, value their own ability to grow, and view mistakes as learning opportunities, so often a hurdle for math students. 
  • College Algebra Essential Video Series covers the essential topics a college algebra student needs to understand to be successful in this course.  Videos can be assigned in a MyLab Math homework assignment to remind students of the crucial content before students begin on their exercises.

1. Functions, Graphs, and Models; Linear Functions

  • Algebra Toolbox
  • 1-1 Functions and Models
  • 1-2 Graphs of Functions
  • 1-3 Linear Functions
  • 1-4 Equations of Lines
  • Preparing for Calculus
  • Summary
  • Key Concepts and Formulas
  • Chapter 1 Skills Check
  • Chapter 1 Review
  • Group Activities/Extended Applications

2. Linear Models, Equations, and Inequalities

  • Algebra Toolbox
  • 2-1 Algebraic and Graphical Solution of Linear Equations
  • 2-2 Fitting Lines to Data Points: Modeling Linear Functions
  • 2-3 Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables
  • 2-4 Solutions of Linear Inequalities
  • Preparing for Calculus
  • Summary
  • Key Concepts and Formulas
  • Chapter 2 Skills Check
  • Chapter 2 Review
  • Group Activities/Extended Applications

3. Quadratic, Piecewise-Defined, and Power Functions

  • Algebra Toolbox
  • 3-1 Quadratic Functions; Parabolas
  • 3-2 Solving Quadratic Equations
  • 3-3 Power and Root Functions
  • 3-4 Piecewise-Defined Functions and Power Functions
  • 3-5 Quadratic and Power Models
  • Preparing for Calculus
  • Summary
  • Key Concepts and Formulas
  • Chapter 3 Skills Check
  • Chapter 3 Review
  • Group Activities/Extended Applications

4. Additional Topics with Functions

  • Algebra Toolbox
  • 4-1 Transformations of Graphs and Symmetry
  • 4-2 Combining Functions; Composite Functions
  • 4-3 One-to-One and Inverse Functions
  • 4-4 Additional Equations and Inequalities
  • Preparing for Calculus
  • Summary
  • Key Concepts and Formulas
  • Chapter 4 Skills Check
  • Chapter 4 Review
  • Group Activities/Extended Applications

5. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

  • Algebra Toolbox
  • 5-1 Exponential Functions
  • 5-2 Logarithmic Functions; Properties of Logarithms
  • >5-3 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
  • 5-4 Exponential and Logarithmic Models
  • 5-5 Exponential Functions and Investing
  • 5-6 Annuities; Loan Repayment
  • 5-7 Logistic and Gompertz Functions
  • Preparing for Calculus
  • Summary
  • Key Concepts and Formulas
  • Chapter 5 Skills Check
  • Chapter 5 Review
  • Group Activities/Extended Applications

6. Higher-Degree Polynomial and Rational Functions

  • Algebra Toolbox
  • 6-1 Higher-Degree Polynomial Functions
  • 6-2 Modeling with Cubic and Quartic Functions
  • 6-3 Solution of Polynomial Equations
  • 6-4 Polynomial Equations Continued; Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
  • 6-5 Rational Functions and Rational Equations
  • 6-6 Polynomial and Rational Inequalities
  • Preparing for Calculus
  • Summary
  • Key Concepts and Formulas
  • Chapter 6 Review
  • Group Activities/Extended Applications

7. Systems of Equations and Matrices

  • Algebra Toolbox
  • 7-1 Systems of Linear Equations in Three Variables <
  • 7-2 Matrix Solution of Systems of Linear Equations
  • 7-3 Matrix Operations
  • 7-4 Inverse Matrices; Matrix Equations
  • 7-5 Determinants and Cramer's Rule
  • 7-6 Systems of Nonlinear Equations
  • Summary
  • Key Concepts and Formulas
  • Chapter 7 Skills Check
  • Chapter 7 Review
  • Group Activities/Extended Applications

8. Special Topics in Algebra

  • 8-1 Systems of Inequalities
  • 8-2 Linear Programming: Graphical Methods
  • 8-3 Sequences and Discrete Functions
  • 8-4 Series
  • 8-5 The Binomial Theorem
  • 8-6 Conic Sections: Circles and Parabolas
  • 8-7 Conic Sections: Ellipses and Hyperbolas
  • Summary
  • Key Concepts and Formulas
  • Chapter 8 Skills Check
  • Chapter 8 Review
  • Group Activity/Extended Applications

Appendices

  • A. Basic Graphing Calculator Guide
  • B. Basic Guide to Excel 2010 and Excel 2013

Credits

Answers to Selected Exercises

Index

About our authors

Ron Harshbarger received his BS from Shippensburg State and an MST from the University of New Hampshire, did graduate work at Penn State University, and received a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh. During a long and highly successful career at Penn State University, Dr. Harshbarger received both teaching and advising awards. At Georgia Southern University, he taught a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in mathematics, developed five new mathematics courses, and created the mathematics component for a new doctoral degree.

At the University of South Carolina Beaufort, Dr. Harshbarger was named Professor of the Year in 1999. In 2000, Professor Harshbarger was named the Governor's Professor of the Year for the State of South Carolina. In 2001, the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees named him the Trustee Professor of the Year. In 2002, he received the Mathematical Association of America Southeastern Section Award for Distinguished University Teaching of Mathematics. He was nominated for the 2003 Haimo Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics, a national award given by the Mathematical Association of America. In 2003, he was also named Professor of the Year at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and given the Governor's Distinguished Professor Award for the state of South Carolina.

Lisa Yocco received her undergraduate degree in mathematics from Augusta State University and her graduate degree in mathematics education from Florida State University. She has taught at both the college level and the high school level for 20 years, with her most recent experience at East Georgia State College. She has co-authored several manuals in mathematics and graphing calculators and has presented workshops and papers at numerous conferences. In addition to her textbook writing and teaching, she enjoys spending time with her 3 children, cooking, and working on interior decorating.

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