Beginning Algebra (PDF)

For many students, study skills and confidence are the biggest hurdles in being successful in learning algebra. In contrast to bulky, expensive conventional texts for developmental math courses, Beginning Algebra: Keeping it Simple introduces the material in a clear and concise manner with advice on how to study and persevere when the material seems too difficult.Designed to enhance confidence and minimize math anxiety, Beginning Algebra keeps explanations simple and illustrates them with numerous sample problems. Concise yet thorough, the book provides plenty of practice problems designed to help students master the skills needed to succeed in math studies.Students learn how to evaluate and simplify algebraic expressions and solve first degree equations and inequalities. The material covers integer exponents, polynomials, factoring, rational expressions, and graphs of lines. Students also learn to solve polynomial and rational equations, as well as the dreaded word problem. This edition features a new chapter that covers systems of linear equations, as well as many new examples and practice problems that target areas that students have the most trouble with.Beginning Algebra is an excellent text for developmental education departments and pre-college programs offering courses in elementary or introductory algebra. Based on successful classroom teaching and response to student-feedback, Beginning Algebra not only teaches math, it teaches students that math is something they can master, and encourages them to never let it stand in their way.