Preface  (Page 2/6)

Curation

To broaden access and encourage community curation, College Algebra is “open source” licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license. The mathematics community is invited to submit feedback to enhance and strengthen the material and keep it current and relevant for today’s students. Submit your suggestions to info@openstaxcollege.org, and check in on edition status, alternate versions, errata, and news on the StaxDash at http://openstaxcollege.org.

Cost

Our textbooks are available for free online, and in low-cost print and e-book editions.

About College Algebra

Written and reviewed by a team of highly experienced instructors, College Algebra provides a comprehensive and multi-layered exploration of algebraic principles. The text is suitable for a typical introductory algebra course, and was developed to be used flexibly. While the breadth of topics may go beyond what an instructor would cover, the modular approach and the richness of content ensures that the book meets the needs of a variety of programs.

College Algebra guides and supports students with differing levels of preparation and experience with mathematics. Ideas are presented as clearly as possible, and progress to more complex understandings with considerable reinforcement along the way. A wealth of examples – usually several dozen per chapter – offer detailed, conceptual explanations, in order to build in students a strong, cumulative foundation in the material before asking them to apply what they’ve learned.

Coverage and scope

In determining the concepts, skills, and topics to cover, we engaged dozens of highly experienced instructors with a range of student audiences. The resulting scope and sequence proceeds logically while allowing for a significant amount of flexibility in instruction.

Chapters 1 and 2 provide both a review and foundation for study of Functions that begins in Chapter 3. The authors recognize that while some institutions may find this material a prerequisite, other institutions have told us that they have a cohort that need the prerequisite skills built into the course.

• Chapter 1: Prerequisites
• Chapter 2: Equations and Inequalities

Chapters 3-6: The Algebraic Functions

• Chapter 3: Functions
• Chapter 4: Linear Functions
• Chapter 5: Polynomial and Rational Functions
• Chapter 6: Exponential and Logarithm Functions

Chapters 7-9: Further Study in College Algebra

• Chapter 7: Systems of Equations and Inequalities
• Chapter 8: Analytic Geometry
• Chapter 9: Sequences, Probability, and Counting Theory

Development overview

OpenStax College Algebra is the product of a collaborative effort by a group of dedicated authors, editors, and instructors whose collective passion for this project has resulted in a text that is remarkably unified in purpose and voice. Special thanks is due to our Lead Author, Jay Abramson of Arizona State University, who provided the overall vision for the book and oversaw the development of each and every chapter, drawing up the initial blueprint, reading numerous drafts, and assimilating field reviews into actionable revision plans for our authors and editors.