Precalculus : A Self-Teaching Guide

by Slavin, Steve; Crisonino, Ginny

• ISBN13: 9780471378235
• ISBN10: 0471378232
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-12
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

The fastest, easiest way to master precalculus . . . by doing it!Do logarithmic functions throw you for a loop? Does the challenge of finding an inverse function leave you overwhelmed? Does the Law of Cosines make you feel clueless? With this helpful, easy-to-follow guide, you will gain total command of these precalc concepts-and many more-in no time at all.Precalculus: A Self-Teaching Guide includes an algebra review and complete coverage of exponential functions, log functions, and trigonometry. Whether you are studying precalculus for the first time, want to refresh your memory, or need a little help for a course, this clear, interactive primer will provide you with the skills you need. Precalculus offers a proven self-teaching approach that lets you work at your own pace-and the frequent self-tests and exercises reinforce what you've learned. Turn to this one-of-a-kind teaching tool and, before you know it, you'll be solving problems like a mathematician!

Author Biography

STEVE SLAVIN, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of economics at Union County College in Cranford, New Jersey. He is the author of several textbooks and self-teaching guides, including Quick Business Math, Math for Your First- and Second- Grader, All the Math You’ll Ever Need, and Economics.

Table of Contents

The Basics	1	(32)
Pretest	2	(3)
Exponents	5	(5)
Polynomials	10	(6)
Rational Exponents and Radicals	16	(1)
Factoring	17	(7)
Basic Geometry	24	(4)
Applications	28	(5)
Functions	33	(19)
Definition of a Function	33	(8)
Operations on Functions	41	(2)
Composite Functions	43	(2)
Inverse Functions	45	(7)
Graphs of Functions	52	(51)
Intercepts	53	(4)
Slope of a Straight Line	57	(2)
Writing the Equation of a Straight Line	59	(3)
Graphs of Linear Functions	62	(5)
Graphs of Quadratic Functions	67	(9)
Graphs of Polynomial Functions of Degree 3 and Higher	76	(6)
Asymptotes	82	(6)
Oblique Asymptotes and Graphs of Rational Functions	88	(15)
Exponential and Logarithmic Functions	103	(24)
Exponential Functions	103	(6)
Logarithmic Functions	109	(2)
Properties of Logarithmic Functions	111	(3)
Solving Logarithmic Equations	114	(5)
Applications	119	(8)
Trigonometry	127	(25)
Angles and Their Measure	127	(5)
Right-Triangle Trigonometry	132	(2)
Trigonometric Functions of Any Angle	134	(6)
Graphs of the Basic Trigonometric Functions	140	(2)
Inverse Trigonometric Functions	142	(4)
Applications	146	(6)
Analytic Trigonometry	152	(26)
Using Fundamental Identities	152	(4)
Verifying Trigonometric Identities	156	(3)
Solving Trigonometric Equations	159	(5)
Sum and Difference Formulas	164	(5)
Multiple-Angle and Product-to-Sum Formulas	169	(9)
Additional Topics in Trigonometry	178	(18)
Law of Sines	178	(9)
Law of Cosines	187	(4)
Area of a Triangle	191	(5)
Miscellaneous Topics	196	(15)
Solving Systems of Inequalities and Linear Programming	196	(8)
Partial Fraction Decomposition	204	(7)
Index	211