Reviews (2)

Worry free service
Not too long after getting the confirmation that my payment went through ok, I got an email from Raerae313 letting me know that she would be shipping out the book I ordered.Not many sellers will let you know if they ever received payment for it.You are left worrying until the book finally shows up at your door step. It was a great experience and I received her book long before any of the others that i had purchased on the same day.I will look forward to buying from her again if she has anymore books I need.

An unnecessary revision to previous editions.
This is an easy to use book, but I've checked the third and fourth editions, and except for different equations, the content is the same. My instructor said it made no difference which edition I used, so I went withthe third one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Mathematics    4. Science/Mathematics   

Reviews (3)

Hornsby & Lial are masters of textbook design
As a Mathematics major, I have been subjected to the good, the bad & the ugly when it comes to textbooks.Of my mathematics texts, Hornsby & Lial definitely rise above the pack.

My Favorite Math Texts
I own four text books by Hornsby and Lial.Their books have been the colleges choice for two courses I've taken and my choice as a reference and backup to the other courses I've had.I wouldn't be without them.When atopic was unclear in my college text, I could refer to their presentationand always gain a better understanding of the subject.I totally disagreewith the reader from Florida regarding graphing calculators.I own two, aTI-82 and a TI-86, and had no experience prior to taking a particularcourse.The instructor was able to guide and teach all that was needed forthe course without loss of material to be covered.The engineer fromFlorida needs to take a closer look at his students.Most of these peoplehave been mastering electronic games and equipment from a very early age. I doubt that they would find plain 'ole graph paper and a pencil morestimulating and interesting.I'm a 52 year old grandmother and I suredon't. Hornsy and Lial get my vote everytime and thanks to on-lineordering, I'm only s few days away from receiving the best they have tooffer.

This book is absolutely horrible.....
The introduction of a graphing calculator, such as the TI-83, at this level of college course is absolutely confusing and ridiculous.Unless anindividual has previously learned the graphing calculator, the studentwinds up spending more time fighting learning the calculator than learningthe algebra.I am a professional engineer of over 15 years experience andhave tudored many students in algebra at the college freshman and sophmorelevel.I cannot recommend such a book or the implementation of suchteaching techniques for freshman and sophmore level college algebracourses.Students must learn the basics first, then learn such a beast asthe graphing calculator.The TI-83 is much to complex and compounds thestruggles of students trying to learn college algebra.College Algebra isalready a "beast" to most whom enroll in it.Don't add anotherlevel of frustration to the students and aggrevation to the teachers.Idont disagree that the graphical methods should be taught, but use plain'ole graph paper and a pencil.The web site is totally useless.TheGraphing Calculator Manual is not readily available through Amazon orBarnes and Noble.Teachers!!! Please put yourself in the minds of thestudents.Make learning a positive experience.This book coupled with theGraphing Calculator only puts a bad taste, aggrevation, frustration in astudents mind.Make learning a positive experience - DON'T USE THIS BOOK. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Algebra - General    4. Graphic Methods    5. Mathematics    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Algebra - General    4. Mathematics    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Algebra - General    4. Mathematics    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. General    4. Mathematics    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Textbooks    8. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Subjects:  1. Algebra - Elementary    2. Algorithms    3. Algorithms (Computer Programming)    4. Computer Arithmetic    5. Computer Books: General    6. Computers    7. Data processing    8. Discrete Mathematics    9. Functions    10. Mathematics    11. Programming - General    12. Programming - Software Development    13. Applied mathematics    14. Computer architecture & logic design    15. Computer science    16. Computers / General    17. Math    18. Mathematical theory of computation   

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - College    3. Algebra - Elementary    4. Algebra - General    5. Algebra - Intermediate    6. Mathematics    7. Science/Mathematics   

Reviews (1)

for a diverse audience
The size of this book [1000 pages], and the scope of the topics it covers makes it suitable for perhaps an entire academic year course.
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Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Algebra - Intermediate    4. Mathematics    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (2)

Yet another poor algebra textbook!
It's a shame what passes for algebra textbooks these days. This is a prime example. First of all, most intermediate algebra texts (including this one) are filled with color photographs and fancy covers, all of which contribute to the exorbitant price tag, yet are totally irrelevant to the learning of mathematics. The authors should peruse some graduate level math books. Math is done (and always has been done) in black and white. Secondly, I find it amazing that they find it necessary to issue a new edition (this is the 5th ed. mind you) every couple of years or so. I wasn't aware that any new research was being done in elementary algebra. What the authors have done is write ONE textbook, and change a couple of equations, rearrange a few chapters, and voila! Now we have a Beginning Algebra textbook. Compare them sometime. They are virtually the same textbook. We use both books at our college. So the students pay the same [amount]twice for the SAME BOOK! Outrageous! But it gets better. Are you ready? The book(s) isn't particularly well thought out. For example, the authors (like many others) think that to add fractions (or simplify them) one needs to factor the numerator and denominator. That's well and good, provided all the numbers you work with have only 2 digits. I challenge the authors to simplify some fractions with 5-digit numerators and denominators sometime, with factoring as their only tool. Oh yes, they don't even bother to give significant information on HOW to factor: Namely, Sieve of Eratosthenes (to find primes) and use of the square root (to determine when the number is factored.) They wave their hands when it comes to finding the LCM, and the method of finding the GCD is delayed until factoring polynomials. Even then it's FACTORING once again - the most grossly inefficient way to find the GCD. Have they ever heard of the Euclidean algorithm? I assume they have SOME background in mathematics. Applications - part of the title. Let's look at some. Coin/stamp/integer problems are totally contrived. Even the poorest student understands that in the REAL world (the world of applications) one does not start out knowing that he has $4.58 in his piggy bank, and that he has three fewer pennies than five times his number of quarters, and wants to find out how many of each coin he has. No. Where does one realistically get such information? One doesn't. If you want to know how many of each coin, you COUNT THEM, as you must do if you know you have $4.58. The authors should climb down from the ivory tower, and TALK to some people that use mathematics (instead of just taking their photograph.) Then write some real applications. Another complaint: Using graphing to find the solution to a system of equations. Are you kidding me? What if the slopes of two lines disagree by 1/10000000. Graph away and say "parallel". The student (or anyone else) has no way of knowing a'priori that this situation won't arise. What about the degree of a polynomial? The authors mention it in passing, and then move on without discussing any APPLICATIONS (there's that word again) of the concept. You know, like when does one stop with a polynomial division problem? Or, how many solutions does a polynomial equation in one variable have? Fabulous, easy to use book
The material in the book is very easy to understand.The chapter test all come with answers in the back of the book so you can check your own work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Algebra - Intermediate    4. Mathematics    5. Science/Mathematics   

Subjects:  1. Algebra - Elementary    2. Algebra - General    3. Completeness theorem    4. Logic    5. Mathematics    6. Philosophy Of Mathematics    7. Polynomials    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Algebra    10. Calculus & mathematical analysis    11. Mathematical logic    12. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (2)

note to buyers
The paperback verion is a student solutions manual and study guide, for Gustafson and Frisk's College Algebra. It does not have the same information as the hardback book

Don't buy this unless you have to.
This is a commonly used textbook for college algebra students. Unfortunately, its examples are poorly written and difficult to understand.In addition, some of the math problems are so far from the examples that it is nearly impossible to figure out what you should be doing without an instructor's help. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Mathematics    4. Science/Mathematics   

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Algebra - General    4. Mathematics    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Algebra - General    4. Algebra - Intermediate    5. Mathematics    6. Science/Mathematics   

Subjects:  1. Algebra - Elementary    2. Finite Mathematics    3. Functional Analysis    4. Functions Of Complex Variables    5. Mathematics    6. Polynomials    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Topology - General    9. Algebra    10. Calculus & mathematical analysis    11. Mathematics / Geometry / General    12. Topology   

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Education    4. Mathematics    5. Study & Teaching    6. Study And Teaching Of Specific Subjects    7. Teaching Methods & Materials - Mathematics   

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Algebra - General    4. General    5. Mathematics    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Study Methods For College Students    8. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Subjects:  1. Algebra - Elementary    2. Algebra - General    3. Equations, Theory of    4. Mathematics    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Algebra    7. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Subjects:  1. Algebra - Elementary    2. Mathematics   

Reviews (1)

Excellent
The Book was in excellent quality. It took less time to receive it than what it was expected. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Mathematics    4. Textbooks   

Subjects:  1. Algebra - Elementary    2. Inequalities (Mathematics)    3. Mathematics    4. Probability & Statistics - General    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Calculus & mathematical analysis    7. Mathematics / General