College Algebra Graphing and Data Analysis

PREFACE TO THE INSTRUCTOR As professors at an urban public university and a community college, respectively, Michael Sullivan and Michael Sullivan III are aware of the varied needs of College Algebra students, students ranging from those having little mathematical background and fear of mathematics courses to those who have had a strong mathematical education and are highly motivated. For same of your students, this will be their last course in mathematics, while others might decide to further their mathematical education. This text is written for both groups. As the author of precalculus, engineering calculus, finite math, and business calculus texts, and as a teacher, Michael understands what students must know if they are to be focused and successful in upper level math courses. However, as a father of four, including the co-author, he also understands the realities of college life. Michael Sullivan III believes passionately in the value of technology as a tool for learning that enhances understanding without sacrificing important skills. Both authors have taken great pains to insure that the text contains solid, student-friendly examples and problems, as well as a clear, seamless writing style. We encourage you to share with us your experiences teaching from this text. In the Second Edition The second edition builds upon a strong foundation by integrating new features and techniques that further enhance student interest and involvement. The elements of the previous edition that have proved successful remain, while many changes, some obvious, others subtle, have been made. A huge benefit of authoring a successful series is the broad-based feedback upon which improvements and additions are ultimately based. Virtually every change to this edition is the result of thoughtful comments and suggestions made by colleagues and students who have used the previous edition. This feedback has proved invaluable and has been used to make changes that improve the flow and usability of the text. For example, some topics have been moved to better reflect the way teachers approach the course. In other places, problems have been added where more practice was needed. One significant change is the inclusion of the "Field Trip to Motorola" chapter projects. These projects take the incorporation of real life in mathematics to a higher level. The supplements package has been enhanced through upgrading traditional supplements and adding innovative media components such as MathPak, an Integrated Learning Environment. MathPak combines all of the text's key supplements into one easy-to-navigate software package. Changes to the Second Edition Chapters 1 & 2 "Data in Ordered Pairs" has been moved from section 1.2 to section 2.3 when linear curve fitting is introduced. Graphs of equations are now covered in two separate sections, 1.2 and 2.1. Circles and Lines are now covered in stand-alone sections. "Lines" includes parallel and perpendicular lines. Chapter 3 has been moved to Chapter 1, allowing a discussion of functions without interruption. The section on inequalties now contains a discussion of interval notation. Chapter 3 "More about Functions" has been divided into "Characteristics of Functions" and "Library of Function: Piecewise-defined Functions". Chapters 4 & 5 Chapter 4 has been divided into two parts: Polynomial and Rational Functions and The Zeros of a Polynomial Function. The section on Rational Functions has been split into two sections making the material more manageable. Chapter 6 Chapter 5 of the 1st Edition. Certain types of exponential and logarithmic equations appear earlier in the chapter. Chapter 7 Now includes two introductory sections on systems of linear equSullivan, Michael is the author of 'College Algebra Graphing and Data Analysis' with ISBN 9780130879165 and ISBN 0130879169.