Pathways to College Mathematics

Bob Blitzer is a native of Manhattan and received a Bachelor of Arts degree with dual majors in mathematics and psychology (minor: English literature) from the City College of New York. His unusual combination of academic interests led him toward a Master of Arts in mathematics from the University of Miami and a doctorate in behavioral sciences from Nova University. Bob is most energized by teaching mathematics and has taught a variety of mathematics courses at Miami-Dade College for nearly 30 years. He has received numerous teaching awards, including Innovator of the Year from the League for Innovations in the Community College, and was among the first group of recipients at Miami-Dade College for an endowed chair based on excellence in the classroom. Bob has written Intermediate Algebra for College Students, Introductory Algebra for College Students, Essentials of Intermediate Algebra for College Students, Introductory and Intermediate Algebra for College Students, Essentials of Introductory and Intermediate Algebra for College Students, Algebra for College Students, Thinking Mathematically, College Algebra, Algebra and Trigonometry, Precalculus, and Trigonometry all published by Pearson.

• PrefaceSupplements ListAcknowledgmentsTo the StudentAbout the Author  1. Numerical Pathways1.1 Number Theory: Prime and Composite Numbers1.2 The Integers; Order of Operations1.3 The Rational Numbers1.4 The Irrational Numbers1.5 Real Numbers and Their Properties1.6 Exponents and Scientific Notation1.7 Arithmetic and Geometric SequencesChapter Summary, Review, and TestChapter 1 Test  2. Algebraic Pathways: Equations and Inequalities2.1 Algebraic Expressions and Formulas2.2 Linear Equations in One Variable2.3 Applications of Linear Equations2.4 Ratios, Rates and Proportions2.5 Modeling Using Variation2.6 Linear Inequalities in One VariableChapter Summary, Review, and TestChapter 2 Test  3. Algebraic Pathways: Graphs, Functions, Linear Functions, and Linear Systems3.1 Graphing and Functions3.2 Linear Functions and Their Graphs3.3 The Point-Slope Form of the Equation of a Line; Scatter Plots and Regression Lines3.4 Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables3.5 Linear Inequalities in Two VariablesChapter Summary, Review, and TestChapter 3 Test  4. Algebraic Pathways: Polynomials, Quadratic Equations, and Quadratic Functions4.1 Operations with Polynomials; Polynomial Functions4.2 Factoring Polynomials4.3 Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring4.4 Solving Quadratic Equations by the Square Root Property and the Quadratic Formula4.5 Quadratic Functions and Their GraphsChapter Summary, Review, and TestChapter 4 Test  5. Geometric Pathways: Measurement5.1 Measuring Length; The Metric System5.2 Measuring Area and Volume5.3 Measuring Weight and TemperatureChapter Summary, Review, and TestChapter 5 Test  6. Geometric Pathways6.1 Points, Lines, Planes, and Angles6.2 Triangles6.3 Polygons, Perimeter, and Tessellations6.4 Area and Circumference6.5 VolumeChapter Summary, Review, and TestChapter 6 Test  7. Pathways to Probability: Counting Methods and Probability Theory7.1 The Fundamental Counting Principle7.2 Permutations7.3 Combinations7.4 Fundamentals of Probability7.5 Probability with the Fundamental Counting Principle, Permutations, and Combinations7.6 Events Involving Not and Or; Odds7.7 Events Involving And; Conditional ProbabilityChapter Summary, Review, and TestChapter 7 Test  8. Statistical Pathways8.1 Sampling, Frequency Distributions, and Graphs8.2 Measures of Central Tendency8.3 Measures of Dispersion8.4 The Normal DistributionChapter Summary, Review, and TestChapter 8 Test  AppendicesA. Basics of PercentB. Applications of PercentC. Bar, Line, and Circle GraphsD. Sets, Venn Diagrams, and Set Operations  Answers to Selected ExercisesSubject IndexIndex of ApplicationsCredits