Preface  (Page 12/3)

Elementary Algebra is a work text that covers the traditional topics studied in a modern elementary algebra course. It is intended for students who:

1. Have no exposure to elementary algebra,
2. Have had a previously unpleasant experience with elementary algebra, or
3. Need to review algebraic concepts and techniques.

Use of this book will help the student develop the insight and intuition necessary to master algebraic techniques and manipulative skills. The text is written to promote problem-solving ability so that the student has the maximum opportunity to see that the concepts and techniques are logically based and to be comfortable enough with these concepts to know when and how to use them in subsequent sections, courses, and non-classroom situations. Intuition and understanding are some of the keys to creativity; we believe that the material presented will help make these keys available to the student.

This text can be used in standard lecture or self-paced classes. To help students meet these objectives and to make the study of algebra a pleasant and rewarding experience, Elementary Algebra is organized as follows.

Pedagogical features

The work text format gives the student space to practice algebraic skills with ready reference to sample problems. The chapters are divided into sections, and each section is a complete treatment of a particular topic, which includes the following features:

• Section Overview
• Sample Sets
• Practice Sets
• Section Exercises
• Exercises for Review

The chapters begin with Objectives and end with a Summary of Key Concepts , an Exercise Supplement , and a Proficiency Exam .

Objectives

Sample sets

1. They serve as a representation to be imitated, which we believe will foster understanding of algebra concepts and provide experience with algebraic techniques.
2. Sample Sets also serve as a preliminary representation of problem-solving techniques that may be used to solve more general and more complicated problems. The examples have been carefully chosen to illustrate and develop concepts and techniques in the most instructive, easily remembered way. Concepts and techniques preceding the examples are introduced at a level below that normally used in similar texts and are thoroughly explained, assuming little previous knowledge.

Practice set