9780136847298

Active learning for active minds.

The authors of the Mathematics in Action series believe that students learn mathematics best by actually doing the math within a realistic context. If a student is taking this course, why teach them the same content in the same way that they've already seen yet did not retain? Following this principle, the authors provide a series of guided-discovery activities that help students to construct, reflect upon, and apply mathematical concepts, deepening their conceptual understanding as they do so. The active style of learning develops critical-thinking skills and mathematical literacy, while keeping the concepts in the context of real applications. The 6th Edition includes updated examples and activities for maximum interest and relevance.

For courses in Intermediate Algebra.

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The Consortium for Foundation Mathematics is a group of mathematics educators, all originally from New York State, who first came together at SUNY Oswego in the summer of 1995 as part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. The members of the group represented two-year and four-year colleges; commuter and residential colleges; large urban institutions and small rural institutions; and multi-campus as well as single campus institutions.

Unified by a desire to change the status quo in order to further student success, the group's initial objectives aimed at a new approach to developmental math that included contextual problem-solving, active collaborative learning, and authentic assessment tied more closely to real-world skills. The efforts of this initial grant resulted in new instructional materials that formed the basis of Consortium's texts, which include range from Prealgebra to Intermediate Algebra, as well as high school titles. As one Consortium author noted, contributing to this series with its different approach "changed my views about math, and about teaching math." Of the 16 instructors originally involved in the grant, eight instructors contribute to the latest editions of the text.

Below is an Activity-level Table of Contents for this title.

Chapter 1. Function Sense
Cluster 1: Modeling with Functions
Activity 1.1 Parking Problems: Functions; Function Notation and Terminology
Activity 1.2 Fill 'er Up: Defining Functions by a Symbolic Rule (Equation)
Activity 1.3 Graphically Speaking: Defining Functions: A Summary
Activity 1.4 Stopping Short: Functions as Mathematical Models
Activity 1.5 Graphs Tell Stories: Graphs of Functions as Mathematical Models
What Have I Learned?
How Can I Practice?
Cluster 2: Linear Functions
Activity 1.6 Walking for Fitness: Average Rate of Change
Activity 1.7 Depreciation: Slope-Intercept Form of an Equation of a Line
Activity 1.8 A New Camera: Point-Slope Form of an Equation of a Line
Activity 1.9 Skateboard Heaven: General Form of an Equation of a Line
Activity 1.10 College Tuition: Modeling Data with Linear Regression Equations
What Have I Learned?
How Can I Practice?
Cluster 3: Systems of Linear Equations, Inequalities, and Absolute Value Functions
Activity 1.11 Moving Out: Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables
Activity 1.12 Fireworks: Solving Systems of Linear Equations using Algebraic Methods
Activity 1.13 Manufacturing Pewter Oil Lamps: Solving Systems of Linear Equations in Three Variables
Activity 1.14 Earth Week: Using Matrices to Solve Systems of Linear Equations
Activity 1.15 How Long Can You Live? Linear Inequalities; Compound Inequalities
Activity 1.16 Working Overtime: Piecewise Linear Functions
What Have I Learned?
How Can I Practice?
Chapter 1 Summary
Chapter 1 Gateway Review

Chapter 2. The Algebra of Functions
Cluster 1: Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication of Polynomial Functions
Activity 2.1 Spending and Earning Money: Polynomial Functions
Activity 2.2 The Dormitory Parking Lot: Multiplication of Polynomials; Multiplicative Properties of Exponents
Activity 2.3 Stargazing: Scientific Notation; Additional Properties and Definitions of Exponents
Activity 2.4 The Cube of a Square: Rational Exponents and nth Roots
What Have I Learned?
How Can I Practice?
Cluster 2: Composition and Inverses of Functions
Activity 2.5 Inflated Balloons: Composite Functions
Activity 2.6 Finding a Bargain: Problem Solving and Using Composite Functions
Activity 2.7 Study Time: Inverse Functions
Activity 2.8 Temperature Conversions: Equations and Graphs of Inverse Functions
What Have I Learned?
How Can I Practice?
Chapter 2 Summary
Chapter 2 Gateway Review

Chapter 3. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Cluster 1: Exponential Functions
Activity 3.1 Prince George and Dracula: Increasing Exponential Functions
Activity 3.2 Half-Life of Drugs or Medication: Decreasing Exponential Functions
Activity 3.3 Spotify: More Growth and Decay Factors
Activity 3.4 Population Growth: Growth and Decay Rates; More Graphing
Activity 3.5 Time is Money: Compound Interest and Continuous Compounding
Activity 3.6 Continuous Growth and Decay: Problem Solving with Continuous Growth and Decay Models
Activity 3.7 Ebola: Modeling Data with Exponential Regression Equations
What Have I Learned?
How Can I Practice?
Cluster 2: Logarithmic Functions
Activity 3.8 The Diameter of Spheres: Logarithmic and Exponential Forms
Activity 3.9 Walking Speed of Pedestrians: Logarithmic Functions
Activity 3.10 Walking Speed of Pedestrians, continued: Modeling Data with Logarithmic Regression
Equations
Activity 3.11 The Elastic Ball: Properties of Logarithms
Activity 3.12 Changing Demographics: Solving Exponential Equations
What Have I Learned?
How Can I Practice?
Chapter 3 Summary
Chapter 3 Gateway Review

Chapter 4. Quadratic and Higher-Order Polynomial Functions
Cluster 1: Introduction to Quadratic Functions
Activity 4.1 Baseball and the Willis Tower: Equations Defining Quadratic Functions
Activity 4.2 The Shot Put: Properties of Graphs of Quadratic Functions
Activity 4.3 Spotify: Solving Quadratic Equations Numerically and Graphically
Activity 4.4 Sir Isaac Newton: Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring
Activity 4.5 Drones: Solving Quadratic Equations Using the Quadratic Formula
Activity 4.6 Heat Index: Modeling Data with Quadratic Regression Equations
Activity 4.7 Complex Numbers
What Have I Learned?
How Can I Practice?
Cluster 2: Curve Fitting and Higher-Order Polynomial Functions
Activity 4.8 The Power of Power Functions: Direct Variation Functions and Their Graphs
Activity 4.9 Volume of a Storage Tank: Polynomial Functions and Their Graphs
Activity 4.10 Federal Prison Population: Modeling Data with Polynomial Regression Equations
What Have I Learned?
How Can I Practice?
Chapter 4 Summary
Chapter 4 Gateway Review

Chapter 5. Rational and Radical Functions
Cluster 1: Rational Functions
Activity 5.1 Speed Limits: Properties and Graphs of Functions Defined by y = k/x, k?0
Activity 5.2 Loudness of a Sound: Inverse Variation Functions
Activity 5.3 Percent Markup: Rational Functions and Their Graphs
Activity 5.4 Blood-Alcohol Levels: Solving Rational Equations
Activity 5.5 Traffic Flow: Solving Rational Equations Using Algebraic Methods
Activity 5.6 Electrical Circuits: Operations of Rational Expressions
What Have I Learned?
How Can I Practice?
Cluster 2: Radical Functions
Activity 5.7 Skydiving: Radical Functions and Their Graphs
Activity 5.8 Falling Objects: Solving Equations Involving a Radical Expression
Activity 5.9 Propane Tank: More Radical Functions and Their Graphs
What Have I Learned?
How Can I Practice?
Chapter 5 Summary
Chapter 5 Gateway Review

Chapter 6. Introduction to Trigonometric Functions
Cluster 1: Introducing the Sine, Cosine, and Tangent Functions
Activity 6.1 The Leaning Tower of Pisa: Sine, Cosine, and Tangent of an Angle in a Right Triangle
Activity 6.2 A Gasoline Problem: Cofunctions of Complementary Angles
Activity 6.3 The Sidewalks of New York: Inverse Sine, Cosine, and Tangent Functions
Activity 6.4 Solving a Murder: Trigonometric Problem-Solving Strategy
Project Activity 6.5 How Stable is that Tower: Problem Solving Using Right Triangle Trigonometry
What Have I Learned?
How Can I Practice?
Cluster 2: Why Are the Trigonometric Functions Called Circular Functions?
Activity 6.6 Learn Trig or Crash! Graphs of Sine and Cosine Functions
Activity 6.7 It Won't Hertz: Radians, Frequency, and Periodic Behavior
Activity 6.8 Get in Shape: Amplitude and Period of the Sine and Cosine Functions
Activity 6.9 The Carousel: Horizontal Shifts of the Graphs of the Sine and Cosine Functions
Activity 6.10 Texas Temperatures: Modeling Data with a Sine Regression Equation
What Have I Learned?
How Can I Practice?
Chapter 6 Summary
Chapter 6 Gateway Review

Appendices
A. Concept Review
B. Trigonometry
C. Getting Started with the TI-84 Plus Family of Calculators
D. Conics (Online in MyLab Math only)

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