Elementary Algebra (Hardcover)

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Product Description

 Suitable for either classroom use or self-paced study, Jacobs's popular text combines real-life examples, carefully structured exercises, and humor to help students learn and remember.

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Product Details Hardcover: 876 pages Publisher: W. H. Freeman (January 15, 1979) Language: English ISBN-10: 0716710471 ISBN-13: 978-0716710479 Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.8 x 1.5 inches Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #48,366 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in this category: (What's this?) #11 in  Books > Science > Mathematics > Pure Mathematics > Algebra > Elementary

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› Visit Amazon's Harold R. Jacobs Page

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	79% buy the item featured on this page: Elementary Algebra 4.8 out of 5 stars (26) $64.99
	6% buy A Teacher's Guide to Elementary Algebra
	5% buy Geometry: Seeing, Doing, Understanding 4.4 out of 5 stars (15) $79.80
	5% buy Mathematics: A Human Endeavor (3rd Edition) 4.8 out of 5 stars (10) $84.79

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Customer Reviews

26 Reviews 5 star:  (22) 4 star:  (3) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:  (1) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.8 out of 5 stars (26 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 156 of 157 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! A readable first year algebra text!, October 12, 1998 By A Customer This book is a kinder, gentler approach to first year algebra. Harold Jacobs actually writes math texts that are fun to read. The sequence of this book is a little different than most algebra books. Jacobs starts off with one of those "Think of a number" puzzles, and shows with diagrams how it works, and then translates it into algebraic notation. This is the point of algebra: How do you say with numbers what you can diagram? This leads quite naturally into Cartesian coordinates and a discussion of some basic functions. Exponents, polynomials, factoring and quadratic equations follows a full treatment of linear equations and systems. I use this book with homeschooled students, because they can actually take it home and study it. The homework problems come in four sets. Set I is review problems. Set II applies to the lesson and has all the answers in the back of the book. Set III is similar to Set II problems, but does not have the answers in the book. Set IV is some logic puzzles and brain teasers for students who love math. Answers to sets other than Set II are in the teacher's guide to Elementary Algebra, along with some wonderful extra material and teaching suggestions. Amazon, why don't you carry the transparencies for this text? I highly recommend both this and Harold Jacob's text on Geometry, a good, old-fashioned approach to Euclidean geometry and proofs. Enjoy! Really. 37 of 37 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding math for visual learners, March 21, 2006 By  Rebecca G. Watson "Book mom" (Montclair, VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    I began using this book to teach my own children after using Saxon Algebra I and II. I was amazed to discover that Jacobs covers ALL the algrbra from both Saxon Algrbra books in only one book and in much more simple language. (No Geometry is covered in Jacobs Algebra-- but Jacobs Geometry covers it more completely that Saxon.) Each lesson starts with a comic strip or interesting picture and builds the lesson on the comics. After one year with Jacobs my children understand how to find the formulas they need and why problems are solved the way the are. Problems that were complex with Saxon are explained simply and visually with Jacobs. Test scores are way up and math is fun again. 31 of 31 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Great text, could use detailed solutions manual, May 26, 2004 By  Amy Jenkins (Crofton, MD United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    I have used Jacobs Algebra (and Geometry) for a homeschooled audience, in a once a week classroom setting of 8 - 16 students. I love the way the material is presented, especially the "boxes" which are used to multiply and divide polynomials and lead to an elegant method of completing the square. His emphasis is understanding WHY, instead of HOW, and my students enjoy it. I do have parents repeatedly request a "Solutions Manual" - the teacher's guide only contains the answers, not the solutions to the problems.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Easy to Understand Algebra A great textbook, well organized that makes Elementary Algebra easy to understand and fun to teach. Published 1 month ago by ragsbags 5.0 out of 5 stars Amazon "The leader for all my textbook purchases" Amazon is the leader for all my purchases when it comes to textbooks. Yes I may pay a little more, and lesser than purchasing them from their respective companies, and it is a... Read more Published 9 months ago by Denise Mcgillivray 5.0 out of 5 stars Elementary Algebra The book arrived in perfect condition. I have bought several textbooks from publishers and usually they arrive with minor damage, but not this one. Published 11 months ago by Charles L. Hill 5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for strugglers This book, together with the teachers' guide is a great resource for teaching algebra to middle- and high-school students who struggle with math. Read more Published 12 months ago by Dave 4.0 out of 5 stars Algebra This is an excellent book to use for tutoring middle school students learning beginning algebra. The book is well written and is easy for the student to read on their own. Read more Published 15 months ago by Harold Foodman 5.0 out of 5 stars Success for the mathematically challenged! I homeschool my kids. My teenage son has Asperger's. He is brilliant at math, but has been terribly frustrated by Saxon. Read more Published 15 months ago by C. Hansen 5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for word people. We are homeschooling a bright word oriented student. Some of the other math texts available use rote repetition to bring home the concepts. Read more Published 20 months ago by Ann Yeago 5.0 out of 5 stars Best Algebra text around -- better than any Integrated Math text! Excellent text which approaches the material in a straight-forward, understandable manner. Nothing cutesy. Read more Published on July 20, 2007 by Karen Nichols Hoppe 5.0 out of 5 stars The best text for pre-algebra and algebra classes in middle and high school This book is the best textbook for a series of courses in pre-algebra and basic algebra that I have ever encountered. Read more Published on November 24, 2006 by Charles Ashbacher 2.0 out of 5 stars Outdated Modern textbooks for younger readers can go overboard on flashy pictures and graphics. This text certainly does not do that. Read more Published on November 19, 2006 by R. L. Sluiter Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 876 pages
• Publisher: W. H. Freeman (January 15, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716710471
• ISBN-13: 978-0716710479
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #48,366 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #11 in

  Books > Science > Mathematics > Pure Mathematics > Algebra > Elementary

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

156 of 157 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! A readable first year algebra text!, October 12, 1998

By A Customer

This book is a kinder, gentler approach to first year algebra. Harold Jacobs actually writes math texts that are fun to read.

The sequence of this book is a little different than most algebra books. Jacobs starts off with one of those "Think of a number" puzzles, and shows with diagrams how it works, and then translates it into algebraic notation. This is the point of algebra: How do you say with numbers what you can diagram? This leads quite naturally into Cartesian coordinates and a discussion of some basic functions. Exponents, polynomials, factoring and quadratic equations follows a full treatment of linear equations and systems.

I use this book with homeschooled students, because they can actually take it home and study it. The homework problems come in four sets. Set I is review problems. Set II applies to the lesson and has all the answers in the back of the book. Set III is similar to Set II problems, but does not have the answers in the book. Set IV is some logic puzzles and brain teasers for students who love math. Answers to sets other than Set II are in the teacher's guide to Elementary Algebra, along with some wonderful extra material and teaching suggestions. Amazon, why don't you carry the transparencies for this text?

I highly recommend both this and Harold Jacob's text on Geometry, a good, old-fashioned approach to Euclidean geometry and proofs. Enjoy! Really.

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding math for visual learners, March 21, 2006

By	Rebecca G. Watson "Book mom" (Montclair, VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I began using this book to teach my own children after using Saxon Algebra I and II. I was amazed to discover that Jacobs covers ALL the algrbra from both Saxon Algrbra books in only one book and in much more simple language. (No Geometry is covered in Jacobs Algebra-- but Jacobs Geometry covers it more completely that Saxon.) Each lesson starts with a comic strip or interesting picture and builds the lesson on the comics. After one year with Jacobs my children understand how to find the formulas they need and why problems are solved the way the are. Problems that were complex with Saxon are explained simply and visually with Jacobs. Test scores are way up and math is fun again.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great text, could use detailed solutions manual, May 26, 2004

By	Amy Jenkins (Crofton, MD United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have used Jacobs Algebra (and Geometry) for a homeschooled audience, in a once a week classroom setting of 8 - 16 students. I love the way the material is presented, especially the "boxes" which are used to multiply and divide polynomials and lead to an elegant method of completing the square. His emphasis is understanding WHY, instead of HOW, and my students enjoy it. I do have parents repeatedly request a "Solutions Manual" - the teacher's guide only contains the answers, not the solutions to the problems.