Intermediate Algebra

Charles P. "Pat" McKeague earned his B.A. in Mathematics from California State University, Northridge, and his M.S. in Mathematics from Brigham Young University. A well-known author and respected educator, he is a full-time writer and a part-time instructor at Cuesta College. He has published twelve textbooks in mathematics covering a range of topics from basic mathematics to trigonometry. An active member of the mathematics community, Professor McKeague is a popular speaker at regional conferences, including the California Mathematics Council for Community Colleges, the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Texas Mathematics Association of Two-Year Colleges, the New Mexico Mathematics Association of Two-Year Colleges, and the National Association for Developmental Education. He is a member of the American Mathematics Association for Two-Year Colleges, the Mathematics Association of America, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the California Mathematics Council for Community Colleges.

1. BASIC PROPERTIES AND DEFINITIONS. Fundamental Definitions and Notation. The Real Numbers. Properties of Real Numbers. Arithmetic with Real Numbers. Recognizing Patterns. Summary. Review. Test. Projects. 2. LINEAR EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES IN ONE VARIABLE. Linear Equations in One Variable. Formulas. Applications. Linear Inequalities in One Variable. Equations with Absolute Value. Inequalities Involving Absolute Value. Summary. Review. Cumulative Review. Test. Projects. 3. EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES IN TWO VARIABLES. Paired Data and the Rectangular Coordinate System. The Slope of a Line. The Equation of a Line. Linear Inequalities in Two Variables. Introduction to Functions. Function Notation. Variation. Summary. Review. Cumulative Review. Test. Projects. 4. SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS. Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables. Systems of Linear Equations in Three Variables. Introduction to Determinants. Cramer's Rule. Applications. Systems of Linear Inequalities. Summary. Review. Cumulative Review. Test. Projects. 5. EXPONENTS AND POLYNOMIALS. Properties of Exponents. Polynomials, Sums, and Differences. Multiplication of Polynomials. The Greatest Common Factor and Factoring by Grouping. Factoring Trinomials. Special Factoring. Factoring: A General Review. Solving Equations by Factoring. Summary. Review. Cumulative Review. Test. Projects. 6. RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS. Basic Properties and Reducing to Lowest Terms. Division of Polynomials. Multiplication and Division of Rational Expressions. Addition and Subtraction of Rational Expressions. Complex Fractions. Equations Involving Rational Expressions. Applications. Summary. Review. Cumulative Review. Test. Projects. 7. RATIONAL EXPONENTS AND ROOTS. Rational Exponents. More Expressions Involving Rational Exponents. Simplified Form for Radicals. Addition and Subtraction of Radical Expressions. Multiplication and Division of Radical Expressions. Equations with Radicals. Complex Numbers. Summary. Review. Cumulative Review. Test. Projects. 8. QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS. Completing the Square. The Quadratic Formula. Additional Items Involving Solutions to Equations. Equations Quadratic in Form. Graphing Parabolas. Quadratic Inequalities. Summary. Review. Cumulative Review. Test. Projects. 9. EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS. Exponential Functions. The Inverse of a Function. Logarithms are Exponents. Properties of Logarithms. Common Logarithms and Natural Logarithms. Exponential Equations and Change of Base. Summary. Review. Cumulative Review. Test. Projects. 10. CONIC SECTIONS. The Circle. Ellipses and Hyperbolas. Second-degree Inequalities and Nonlinear Systems. Summary. Review. Cumulative Review. Test. Projects. Appendix A: Synthetic Division. Appendix B: Conditional Statements. Appendix C: Algebra and Composition with Functions. Answers to odd-numbered problems, chapter reviews, chapter tests, and cumulative reviews. Index.