Algebra & Trigonometry (7th Edition) (Hardcover)

by Michael Sullivan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
For undergraduate courses in Algebra and Trigonometry with optional Graphing Calculator usage. The Seventh Edition of this dependable text retains its best features -- accuracy, precision, depth, strong student support, and abundant exercises -- while substantially updating content and pedagogy. After completing the book, students will be prepared to handle the algebra found in subsequent courses such as finite mathematics, business mathematics, and engineering calculus.

From the Publisher
A proven motivator for students of diverse mathematical backgrounds, this text is organized and written with all students in mind. Striving to teach mathematics as a way of life, Sullivan provides understandable, realistic applications that are consistent with the abilities of any student. This text develops the trigonometric funtions using a right triangle approach and showing how it leads to the unit circle approach. Graphing techniques are emphasized, including a thorough discussion of polar coordinates, parametric equations, and conics using polar coordinates. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1184 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 7th edition (January 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131430734
• ISBN-13: 978-0131430730
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.8 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #191,444 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Please read this review!!!!, April 26, 2003

By	Mark Sheridan (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Algebra and Trigonometry (6th Edition) (Hardcover)

1)Michael Sullivan (Sr.) is one of the four or five best writers
of math textbooks on today's scene. If you can find a textbook written by him that fits whatever current math course you are in
buy the book sight unseen. You will be more than happy that you
did.
2)As far as this book is concerned, I used it from chapter 1 to the end (every section of every chapter) and did every problem in
the book. I did not have an instructor and I was not enrolled in a course. I used the book to brush up for calculus after being out of school for 20 years.
3)This book is great for a course in college algebra, trigonometry, or precalculus. It serves all three purposes. I know this because after I finished the text and began studying
calculus, on my own, I was really able to appreciate how well
Sullivan's book prepared me for calculus.
4)The explanations of each concept are clear, not more rigorous
than is appropriate for a student at the level of the textbook,
but certainly not dumbed down.
5)The problems and questions are well written, comprehensive, and
most importantly, instructive. I found that the best question I
could ask myself about every problem in the book was "now what is
Sullivan trying to get me to see by doing this problem or answering this question". I mention this because this is what Sullivan is really good at; he doesn't spoon feed you.
6)Look, we all want essentially the same things from a textbook.
We want clearly written, well illustrated worked out problems
that allow us to grasp the concept in question so that we can use
it to solve problems and answer conceptual questions. With Sullivan, you get this in great measure.
This is a wonderful textbook for both sudents and teachers. It is
a great book to learn from and a great book to learn to teach from.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Precalculus Reference, August 5, 2003

By	JON STRICKLAND "Jon Strickland" (Smithfield, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Algebra and Trigonometry (6th Edition) (Hardcover)

With the sixth edition of this textbook, Sullivan has made significant strides since the fifth edition of the College Algebra portion. The interval notations used to indicate the regions where the value of a function is increasing or decreasing is so much more clear and concise. In contrast to the former use of frequently displaying number lines with pluses and minuses underneath, in which the readings of them were perhaps more of an exercise for the eyes than for the mind, Sullivan revised this mess using parentheses and brackets to indicate test intervals.

As a teacher, I say that this is not the most user-friendly book for an instructor who teaches one hour college algebra classes three times a week. Oftentimes, for me to quickly get the fundamentals across, I have to paraphrase what Sullivan lays out in many of the sections. The language is often too theoretical for several of my students (Many are in non-technical majors but have to complete college algebra as a last mathematics course requirement), and I have to put the symbolic logic sequences into terms that can cross over to applied mathematics. This is not meant to be a criticism, however.

Perhaps the main weaknesses lie in the shortcomings of applied problems, particularly in the sections concerning maxima and minima, and especially in the inequality segments. On a very positive note, however, I will grant that the sixth chapter, which involves logarithms and exponents is quite fascinating. For instance, you have applied problems involving the amount of interest that can be gained after so many years if, say, [money amount]is deposited into an account and accumulates interest at 6% compounded quarterly. Physics problems are also well presented. One interesting tidbit: if you wondered how long it would take for a 300-degree dish to cool down to 100 degrees in an environment that is at room temperature, the formula that can be used, namely Newton's Law of Cooling, is provided. As another example: suppose that a dead animal was discovered in a barn at midnight and its temperature was 80°F° ; the temperature of the barn is kept constant at 60°F; two hours later the temperature of the corpse dropped to 75°F; find the time of death. The formula for this type of problem is also shown.

As added kudos, I especially like the intermittent TI-83 calculator tips. The use of technology in mathematics classes is notably increasing in the community colleges. All in all, this is a finer, more updated version, and it is especially recommended for those who want to go beyond the call of duty and discover new ways of applying mathematics to their daily lives.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well laid out, January 3, 2001

By	Tim Laduca "you" (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Algebra and Trigonometry (5th Edition) (Hardcover)

One feature I really liked about this book was the "Now work on Problem #..." items, which give you a specific exercise to work on in that section to make sure you understand the concept just covered. Also, the author has highlighted certain exercise problems for a suggested practice test. These are great if you already know some of the material you can just breeze through these until you get stuck on something. The paperback solutions manual was also excellent, I used it a lot since I was teaching myself.