Intermediate Algebra [Hardcover]

Margaret L. Lial (Author), John Hornsby (Author), Terry McGinnis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0321127137 | ISBN-13: 978-0321127136 | Publication Date: April 2, 2004 | Edition: 9th

The Lial series has helped thousands of students succeed in developmental mathematics through its friendly writing style, numerous realistic examples, extensive problem sets, and complete supplements package. In keeping with its proven track record, this revision includes a new open design, more exercises and applications, and additional features to help both students and instructors succeed.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Marge Lial 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.

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Terry McGinnis - A native Midwesterner, Terry received her Bachelor¿s of Science in Elementary Education (Mathematics concentration) from Iowa State University. She has taught elementary and middle school mathematics, and developed and implemented the curriculum used with her students. Terry has been involved in college mathematics publishing for over 15 years, working with a variety of authors on textbooks in developmental and precalculus mathematics. After working behind the scenes on many of the Lial/Hornsby textbooks and supplements for the past ten years, Terry most recently joined Margaret Lial and John Hornsby as co-author of their developmental mathematics series that includes Introductory Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, and Introductory and Intermediate Algebra, all published by Addison-Wesley. When not working, Terry enjoys spinning at a local health club and walking. She is a devoted parent of two sons, Andrew and Tyler.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 896 pages
• Publisher: Addison Wesley; 9th edition (April 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321127137
• ISBN-13: 978-0321127136
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Further adventures with algebra..., May 26, 2004

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Intermediate Algebra (Hardcover)

This book is currently being used by the community college where I tutor as a book for the internet version of Intermediate Algebra, a course that most of our two-year degree programmes require as part of the mathematics requirement, and one of the most 'popular' courses at the tutor centre. Because this book is used by the internet course, it has to be well crafted to enable students to learn from on their own, and indeed, it seems to pass muster on that account.

The organisation of the book is fairly standard for algebra texts of this level: basic number theory is introduced (which should be a refresher or review from previous basic mathematics or algebra courses), the linear equations and inequalities are introduced, with equations of one variable, some elementary set operations, and the concept of inequalities. The third chapter introduces graphs, with the x-y coordinate axis, two-variable equations introduced. The fourth chapter looks at systems of equations, both in two and three variables, and introduces matrix methodology.

The fifth chapter develops the ideas of exponents, introducing scientific notation and polynomial multiplication and division. This is a prelude to factoring, the subject of chapter six. Trinomial factors, special cases and general approaches are discussed, including the grouping method and trial-and-error.

Chapter seven looks at rational expressions, complex fractions, and applications that build upon the factoring. Chapter eight introduces roots and radicals as a prelude to the quadratic equation in chapter nine. Graphing of functions such as parabolas is developed here.

Chapter ten looks at logarithmic, inverse and exponential functions, leading to analytic geometry topics such as conic sections, nonlinear functions and nonlinear systems in chapter eleven. This include hyperbolas, circles, and ellipses. The final chapter addresses the ideas of series (arithmetic sequences, geometric sequences) and introduces the binomial theorem.

The chapters have group activities at the end of each section that set the mathematics learned in proper 'real world' context. For example, the group activity for chapter eleven on analytic geometry topics deals with finding the paths of natural satellites; other activities include figuring out investments, the progress of disease spreading, the paths of comets, and comparing long-distance charges.

Each chapter comes with a convenient summary, a set of review exercises, and a chapter text. The summaries address key concepts, terms, new symbols introduced, and basic patterns of problems. There are also cumulative review sets after each chapter that address all the previous chapters. The first appendix is an introduction to calculators (there are many types of calculators, so this section is somewhat general, addressing those calculators which use basic algebraic logic in order of operations and other important areas.

The other appendices go into more detail about matrices and determinants (Cramer's Rule) and synthetic division for polynomials, for the ambitious students who wish to understand further.

The text is generally readable and accessible, with colourful pages, well-illustrated graphs and charts as required, and pictures thrown in for good measure and visual interest. The authors employ a six-step method for problem solving (read, assign variables, write equations, solve, state answers, check) at each step in the text. There is a student's solution manual, with detailed solutions to odd-numbered problems (plus others), available; this is where they 'show the work'; the simple answers are found in the back of the book.

This is a good book for classroom and self-study purposes.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intermediate Algebra, February 25, 2008

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Spiderwoman - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Intermediate Algebra (Hardcover)

Lial's book is fabulous for it's logical organization. My students can independently maneuver through this book and locate poignant examples when needed. The questions become appropriately more difficult in small steps to allow students to uncover new concepts gradually and allow them to review problem areas. The answers at the back of the book are practical and helpful and provide confidence to students. Throughout the book are numerous review tests which allow students to review several chapters at once. My students used Beginning Algebra by Lial before using this book. Both of her books are excellent and provide clearly explained concepts and examples.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MAT 1033, January 2, 2011

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R. Savoia - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Intermediate Algebra (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book to prepare you for college algebra. Everything in it is a must have before you move on and it is taught in an expert style in this book. Going through many books through college, I found this to be one of my favorites as far as being able to understand what it's teaching. Buying the SSM with it is a must if your not great at math.