We use College Algebra Stewart Redlin Watson5th Edition for our College Algebra class, one of the two bridge classes between intermediate algebra and the college-level calculus course (the other bridge course is trigonometry). The first chapter is a review of key concepts (one that I've found almost every algebra book tends to cover, regardless of level). Real numbers, algebraic expressions, exponents, radicals, and factoring are reintroduced to students in ways that will carry through the rest of the text. Depending upon the sequencing of study, this section can be glossed over fairly quickly. However, the student would be well served to see the Discovery Project in this section, which shows an interesting graphic/visual way of seeing how equations operate.
The Discover Project is one of the unique features of this text overall. Each chapter contains a Discovery Project designed to bring 'life' to the numbers and concepts with which the student is working in the rest of the chapter. Discovery Projects include looking at equations through the ages (how did people do math in the past?), just what is zero anyway, how do exponents work exponentially, and how does the increasingly popular concept of chaos fit into math at this level?
These are part of the 'rule of four' the authors employ - 'topics should be presented geometrically, numerically, algebraically, and verbally.' Another part of this is the Focus on Modeling sections found at the end of each chapter, which encourage students to apply the concepts to real-world applications and situations - just what do these lines and graphs mean? How do these numbers and the way they are played out correspond to anything that means anything? These exercises will help.
The pages are visually interesting, with side-bar information laid out separated from the main strand of text. Sometimes these will include brief biographies of mathematicians and scientists, and sometimes illumination of key and interesting concepts related to the main text topic. These also serve to connect mathematics back to practical, real-world situations.
The text also takes advantage of the ready availability of graphing calculators and graphing aids on the computer/internet. There is also a skill-building CD-ROM included with the text, that includes Spanish subtitles and graphic calculator tutorials. Students also might be interested in purchasing the Student Solutions Manual (ISBN 0534-40601-7) by John Banks, in which the solutions to all the odd-numbered problems are fully worked out with all work shown (the final answers to these problems are included in the back of the regular text).
The chapters cover functions, graphing and coordinates, systems of equations, exponential and logarithmic functions, matrices and determinants, conic sections, sequences and series, and probability theories.
I have few criticisms of College Algebra Stewart 5th Edition. I wish it had been around when I was doing this subject for the first time 25 years ago (of course, back then I was privileged to have a simple calculator that had the four arithmetical functions, and nothing else). One thing I might have wished for was a Mathematical Vignette on Hypatia, the mathematician from Alexandria from the fourth and fifth centuries (women are represented in the Vignettes, but certainly Hypatia deserves a place among the list in this text). However, this is a very minor flaw in an otherwise great text. The text is almost worth buying just for the picture of Ronald Graham juggling Rubik's Cubes. Now Newer Edition
Product Details
* Hardcover: 784 pages
* Publisher: Brooks Cole; 5 edition (February 19, 2008)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 0495565210
* ISBN-13: 978-0495565215
* Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 1.3 inches
College Algebra Stewart 5th Edition