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Prealgebra & Introductory Algebra, 6th edition

Published by Pearson (January 11, 2024) © 2025

  • Elayn Martin-Gay University of New Orleans, Lakefront

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For courses in Prealgebra & Elementary Algebra. 

Every student can succeed

Elayn Martin-Gay's firm belief that each student can succeed shapes her texts and video resources; her student-centric approach creates course materials that are beloved by students and instructors alike. Knowing that students often need to build study skills along with math skills, she helps them transition from arithmetic to algebra by weaving study skills resources and student success tips throughout her program.

Prealgebra & Introductory Algebra, 6th Edition continues Elayn’s focus on student success with study skills more tightly integrated into the resources, updated applications to show students the relevancy of the math, and more.

Hallmark features of this title

  • A study skills focus helps students make the most of their time.
    • Resources include Section 1.1: Tips for Success in Mathematics, and a Video Notebook that encourages good note-taking and organization (often a challenge in this course).
  • Thorough end-of-chapter material includes Getting Ready for the Test exercises that check students' understanding of the big picture before they take a test.
  • Detailed step-by-step examples and practice margin exercises paired with each example encourage students to participate in learning.  
  • Concept Checks allow students to gauge their grasp of an idea as it is presented. 
  • Mid-Chapter Review 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: An entirely new Section Lecture Video series merges study skills with mathematics instruction. Common errors and study tips are addressed along with the math. All videos are 100% presented by Elayn Martin-Gay in her friendly, approachable style.
  • REVISED: Updated real-life applications and data keep content relevant for today's students. Updated application topics include SIM cards, streaming music, organic foods and wearable technology.
  • REVISED: A revised Key Concept Activity Workbook includes updated Extension Exercises, Exploration Activities, Conceptual Exercises, and Group Activities. These activities are a great way to engage students in conceptual projects and exploration as well as group work.
  • REVISED: Revised Exercise Sets have been carefully examined and updated. Special focus has been placed on making sure that even- and odd-numbered exercises are carefully paired, and that real-life applications are updated.

Features of MyLab Math for the 6th Edition

  • NEW: An entirely new Section Lecture Video series merges study skills and math concepts. Common errors and study tips are addressed along with the math. All videos are presented by Elayn Martin-Gay in her friendly, approachable style.
  • Additional videos include Getting Ready for the Test video solutions and Chapter Test Prep videos, both of which help students in their most teachable moment: the night before a test.
  • NEW: Gradable GeoGebra graphing exercises enable students to interact directly with the math in a manner that reflects how students would graph on paper.
  • NEW: Set-Up and Solve exercises ask students to first determine how they'd approach a problem before solving, reinforcing the crucial first step of identifying the problem type and problem-solving method needed.
  • Getting Ready for the Test questions marked in blue in the instructor's edition are premade to use in Learning Catalytics. Learning Catalytics is a student engagement tool in the MyLab that uses students' own devices to gauge class understanding in real-time.
  • Growth mindset videos and exercises are available to encourage students to maintain a positive attitude about learning, view mistakes as a learning opportunity, and overcome the “I've never been good at math” attitude.

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 and Subtracting Whole Numbers, and Perimeter
  • 1.4 Rounding and Estimating
  • 1.5 Multiplying Whole Numbers and Area
  • 1.6 Dividing Whole Numbers
  • Integrated Review: Operations on Whole Numbers
  • 1.7 Exponents and Order of Operations
  • 1.8 Introduction to Variables, Algebraic Expressions, and Equations

2. Integers and Introduction to Solving Equations

  • 2.1 Introduction to Integers
  • 2.2 Adding Integers
  • 2.3 Subtracting Integers
  • 2.4 Multiplying and Dividing Integers
  • Integrated Review: Integers
  • 2.5 Order of Operations
  • 2.6 Solving Equations: The Addition and Multiplication Properties

3. Solving Equations and Problem Solving

  • 3.1 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
  • 3.2 Solving Equations: Review of the Addition and Multiplication Properties
  • Integrated Review: Expressions and Equations
  • 3.3 Solving Linear Equations in One Variable
  • 3.4 Linear Equations in One Variable and Problem Solving

4. Fractions and Mixed Numbers

  • 4.1 Introduction to Fractions and Mixed Numbers
  • 4.2 Factors and Simplest Form
  • 4.3 Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
  • 4.4 Adding and Subtracting Like Fractions, Least Common Denominator, and Equivalent Fractions
  • 4.5 Adding and Subtracting Unlike Fractions
  • Integrated Review: Summary on Fractions and Operations on Fractions
  • 4.6 Complex Fractions and Review of Order of Operations
  • 4.7 Operations on Mixed Numbers
  • 4.8 Solving Equations Containing Fractions

5. Decimals

  • 5.1 Introduction to Decimals
  • 5.2 Adding and Subtracting Decimals
  • 5.3 Multiplying Decimals and Circumference of a Circle
  • 5.4 Dividing Decimals
  • Integrated Review: Operations on Decimals
  • 5.5 Fractions, Decimals, and Order of Operations
  • 5.6 Solving Equations Containing Decimals
  • 5.7 Decimal Applications: Mean, Median, and Mode

6. Ratio, Proportion, and Percent

  • 6.1 Ratio and Proportion
  • 6.2 Percents, Decimals, and Fractions
  • 6.3 Solving Percent Problems with Equations
  • 6.4 Solving Percent Problems with Proportions
  • Integrated Review: Ratio, Proportion, and Percent
  • 6.5 Applications of Percent
  • 6.6 Percent and Problem Solving: Sales Tax, Commission, and Discount
  • 6.7 Percent and Problem Solving: Interest

7. Graphs, Triangle Applications, and Introduction to Statistics and Probability

  • 7.1 Pictographs, Bar Graphs, Histograms, Line Graphs, and Introduction to Statistics
  • 7.2 Circle Graphs
  • Integrated Review: Reading Graphs
  • 7.3 Square Roots and the Pythagorean Theorem
  • 7.4 Congruent and Similar Triangles
  • 7.5 Counting and Introduction to Probability

8. Geometry and Measurement

  • 8.1 Lines and Angles
  • 8.2 Perimeter
  • 8.3 Area, Volume, and Surface Area
  • Integrated Review: Geometry Concepts
  • 8.4 Linear Measurement
  • 8.5 Weight and Mass
  • 8.6 Capacity
  • 8.7 Temperature and Conversions Between the U.S. and Metric Systems

9. Equations, Inequalities, and Problem Solving

  • 9.1 Symbols and Sets of Numbers
  • 9.2 Properties of Real Numbers
  • 9.3 Further Solving Linear Equations
  • Integrated Review: Real Numbers and Solving Linear Equations
  • 9.4 Further Problem Solving
  • 9.5 Formulas and Problem Solving
  • 9.6 Linear Inequalities and Problem Solving

10. Exponents and Polynomials

  • 10.1 Exponents
  • 10.2 Negative Exponents and Scientific Notation
  • 10.3 Introduction to Polynomials
  • 10.4 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
  • 10.5 Multiplying Polynomials
  • 10.6 Special Products
  • Integrated Review: Exponents and Operations on Polynomials
  • 10.7 Dividing Polynomials

11. Factoring Polynomials

  • 11.1 The Greatest Common Factor and Factoring by Grouping
  • 11.2 Factoring Trinomials of the Form x2+ bx + c
  • 11.3 Factoring Trinomials of the Form ax2+ bx + c
  • 11.4 Factoring Trinomials of the Form ax2+ bx + c by Grouping
  • 11.5 Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials and the Difference of Two Squares
  • Integrated Review: Choosing a Factoring Strategy
  • 11.6 Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring
  • 11.7 Quadratic Equations and Problem Solving

12. Rational Expressions

  • 12.1 Simplifying Rational Expressions
  • 12.2 Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions
  • 12.3 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with the Same Denominator and Least Common Denominator
  • 12.4 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with Different Denominators
  • 12.5 Solving Equations Containing Rational Expressions
  • Integrated Review: Summary on Rational Expressions
  • 12.6 Rational Equations and Problem Solving
  • 12.7 Simplifying Complex Fractions

13. Graphing Equations and Inequalities

  • 13.1 The Rectangular Coordinate System
  • 13.2 Graphing Linear Equations
  • 13.3 Intercepts
  • 13.4 Slope and Rate of Change
  • 13.5 Equations of Lines
  • Integrated Review: Summary on Linear Equations
  • 13.6 Introduction to Functions
  • 13.7 Graphing Linear Inequalities in Two Variables
  • 13.8 Direct and Inverse Variation

14. Systems of Equations

  • 14.1 Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Graphing
  • 14.2 Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Substitution
  • 14.3 Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Addition
  • Integrated Review: Summary on Solving Systems of Equations
  • 14.4 Systems of Linear Equations and Problem Solving

15. Roots and Radicals

  • 15.1 Introduction to Radicals
  • 15.2 Simplifying Radicals
  • 15.3 Adding and Subtracting Radicals
  • 15.4 Multiplying and Dividing Radicals
  • Integrated Review: Simplifying Radicals
  • 15.5 Solving Equations Containing Radicals
  • 15.6 Radical Equations and Problem Solving

16. Quadratic Equations

  • 16.1 Solving Quadratic Equations by the Square Root Property
  • 16.2 Solving Quadratic Equations by Completing the Square
  • 16.3 Solving Quadratic Equations by the Quadratic Formula
  • Integrated Review: Summary on Solving Quadratic Equations
  • 16.4 Graphing Quadratic Equations in Two Variables

Appendices

  • A: Tables
    • A.1 Table of Geometric Figures
    • A.2 Table of Percents, Decimals, and Fraction Equivalents
    • A.3 Table on Finding Common Percents of a Number
    • A.4 Table of Squares and Square Roots
  • B: Factoring Sums and Differences of Cubes
  • C: Mixture and Uniform Motion Problem Solving
  • D: Systems of Linear Inequalities
  • E: Geometric Formulas

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 an 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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