College Algebra (8th Edition) [Hardcover]

Margaret L. Lial (Author), John Hornsby (Author), David I. Schneider (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0321056582 | ISBN-13: 978-0321056580 | Publication Date: July 27, 2000 | Edition: 8

This book, intended for a graphing calculator optional college algebra course, offers students the content and tools they will need to successfully learn college algebra. The authors have addressed the needs of students who will continue their study of mathematics as well as those who are taking college algebra as their final mathematics course. Emphasis is placed on exploring mathematical concepts by using real data, current applications and optional technology.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Marge Lial was always interested in math; it was her favorite subject in the first grade! Marge's intense desire to educate both her students and herself has inspired the writing of numerous best-selling textbooks. Marge, who received Bachelor's and Master's degrees from California State University at Sacramento, is now affiliated with American River College.

Marge is an avid reader and traveler. Her travel experiences often find their way into her books as applications, exercise sets, and feature sets. She is particularly interested in archeology. Trips to various digs and ruin sites have produced some fascinating problems for her textbooks involving such topics as the building of Mayan pyramids and the acoustics of ancient ball courts in the Yucatan.

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John Hornsby When John Hornsby enrolled as an undergraduate at Louisiana State University, he was uncertain whether he wanted to study mathematics, education, or journalism. His ultimate decision was to become a teacher, but after twenty-five years of teaching at the high school and university levels and ten years of writing mathematics textbooks, both of his goals have been realized. His love for teaching and for mathematics is evident in his passion for working with students and fellow teachers as well. His specific professional interests are recreational mathematics, mathematics history, and incorporating graphing calculators into the curriculum.

John's personal life is busy as he devotes time to his family (wife Gwen, and sons Chris, Jack, and Josh). He has been a rabid baseball fan all of his life. John's other hobbies include numismatics (the study of coins) and record collecting. He loves the music of the 1960s and has an extensive collection of the recorded works of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 644 pages
• Publisher: Addison Wesley; 8 edition (July 27, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321056582
• ISBN-13: 978-0321056580
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #391,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars If there was a zero rating, this book would have it., May 18, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: College Algebra (8th Edition) (Hardcover)

Incomprehensible is the best word I can find for this book. I'm good at math and I can't understand half this book. It's the worst textbook I have ever had to deal with. Obviously college instructors do not read the reviews.

The authors give one poor example for every problem, work through the sections as if the reader already knows all the methods, and introduce new concepts without so much as a definition. It's BAD BAD BAD!

College instructors: If you want to confuse your students and discourage them from taking any more classes in math, choose this book.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Hire A Tutor, May 11, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: College Algebra (8th Edition) (Hardcover)

I agree with the other reviews - this is a poor book. Examples are terse, not well explained, and often don't apply to the exercises you have to do. College Algebra is an intimidating class for nonmajors (perhaps for majors too), and this book does not help. I'd encourage any professor with a choice not to use this book.

So what to do if it's required, like it was for me? I'd say buy the book used (lots of low priced options currently), and use the savings to hire a good tutor to help explain what the book doesn't. I did this, and it did help a lot. I really only turned to the book to write the problems down, and ignored the rest, because otherwise I got too frustrated.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars How to teach algebra to mathematicians..., September 5, 2003

By 

"router-nut" (North Richland Hills, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: College Algebra (8th Edition) (Hardcover)

This book was not written for students. It was written for those already fluent in algebra. Why this was chosen as the textbook for my college algebra course, I will never know.
The explanations are terse, and if the student does not already posess a natural affinity for mathematics, lead to even greater confusion. Vital steps are glossed over as if the author thinks everyone reading the book instantly understands without explanation or example.