Waubonsee Community College

Algebra demystified, Rhonda Huettenmueller

eng

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Algebra demystified

671491715

Rhonda Huettenmueller

DeMystified series

Overview: Your SOLUTION to mastering ALGEBRA! Trying to tackle algebra but nothing's adding up? No problem! Factor in Algebra Demystified, Second Edition and multiply your chances of learning this important branch of mathematics. Written in a step-by-step format, this practical guide covers fractions, variables, decimals, negative numbers, exponents, roots, and factoring. Techniques for solving linear and quadratic equations and applications are discussed in detail. Clear examples, concise explanations, and worked problems with complete solutions make it easy to understand the material, and end-of-chapter quizzes and a final exam help reinforce learning. It's a no-brainer! You'll learn how to: Translate English sentences into mathematical symbols; Write the negative of numbers and variables; Factor expressions; Use the distributive property to expand expressions; Solve applied problems. Simple enough for a beginner, but challenging enough for an advanced student, Algebra Demystified, Second Edition helps you master this essential math subject. It's also the perfect resource for preparing you for higher level math classes and college placement tests

How to use this book -- 1: Fractions -- Fraction multiplication -- Multiplying fractions and whole numbers -- Fraction division -- Simplifying fractions -- Greatest common divisor -- Adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators -- Adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators -- Least Common Denominator (LCD) -- Finding the LCD -- Adding more than two fractions -- Whole number-fraction arithmetic -- Compound fractions -- Mixed numbers and improper fractions -- Fractions and division of whole numbers -- Mixed number arithmetic -- Multiplying mixed numbers -- Dividing mixed numbers -- Recognizing quantities and relationships in word problems -- Summary -- Quiz -- 2: Introduction To Variables -- Simplifying fractions containing variables -- Operations on fractions containing variables -- Fraction division and compound fractions -- Adding and subtracting fractions containing variables -- Variables in word problems -- Summary -- Quiz -- 3: Decimals -- Adding and subtracting decimal numbers -- Multiplying decimal numbers -- Containing decimals -- Division with decimals -- Summary -- Quiz -- 4: Negative Numbers -- Sum of a positive number and a negative number -- Subtracting a larger number from a smaller number -- Subtracting a positive number from a negative number -- Double negatives -- Rewriting a subtraction problem as an addition problem -- Multiplication and division with negative numbers -- Negating variables -- Fractions and negative signs -- Review -- Quiz -- 5: Exponents And Roots -- Exponent properties and algebraic expressions -- Adding/subtracting fractions -- Multiplying/dividing with exponents -- Roots -- Simplifying roots -- Roots expressed as exponents -- Simplifying multiple roots -- Summary -- Quiz6: Factoring And The Distributive Property -- Distributing negative numbers -- Combining like terms -- Adding/subtracting fractions -- Factoring -- Factoring with negative numbers -- More factoring -- Factoring by grouping -- Factoring to simplify fractions -- FOIL method -- Factoring quadratic polynomials -- Factoring the difference of two squares -- More on factoring quadratic polynomials -- Quadratic-type expressions -- Factoring to simplify a larger family of fractions -- Adding/subtracting fractions -- Summary -- Quiz -- 7: Linear Equations -- Solving equations -- Strategy for solving linear equations -- Decimals -- Formulas -- Equations leading to linear equations -- Summary -- Quiz -- 8: Linear Applications -- Percents -- Increasing/decreasing by a percent -- Working with formulas -- Number sense -- Problems involving three unknowns -- Grade problems -- Coin problems -- Investment problems -- Mixture problems -- Work problems -- Distance problems -- Geometric figures -- Summary -- Quiz -- 9: Linear Inequalities -- Inequalities and the number line -- Solving linear inequalities -- Interval notation -- Applied problems -- Bounded intervals -- Solving double inequalities -- Applications of double inequalities -- Summary -- Quiz -- 10: Quadratic Equations -- Solving quadratic equations by factoring -- Extracting roots -- Solving quadratic equations with the quadratic formula -- Rational equations that lead to quadratic equations -- Summary -- Quiz -- 11: Quadratic Applications -- Number sense problems -- Revenue problems -- More work problems -- Height of a falling object -- Problems in geometry -- Distance problems -- Round-trip problems -- Summary -- Quiz -- Final exam -- Answers to quizzes and final exam -- Appendix -- Index