Intermediate Algebra

Intermediate Algebra Thinkwell's Intermediate Algebra covers all the essential topics needed to be successful in college algebra, precalculus, statistics, and other college-level math courses. Students enjoy our online video lessons with award-winning professor Edward Burger. He's smart and funny, and his multimedia lessons work with any learning style. His step-by-step lessons focus on examples and real-world applications, which makes learning algebra fun and easy. Our complete Intermediate Algebra package includes: 12-month Online Subscription to our complete Intermediate Algebra course with video lessons, automatically graded algebra problems, and much more. Workbook (optional) with lecture notes, sample problems, and exercises so that you can study even when away from the computer. Intermediate Algebra Materials Online Subscription, 12-month access Access to a complete online package that includes everything you need: High-quality video lessons explain all of the Intermediate Algebra math topics and concepts Automatically graded algebra problems with immediate feedback allow you to track your progress Printable full-color illustrated notes help you review what you've learned in the video lesson Subscriptions start when you are ready. Buy now and activate your course anytime you like. Wait up to one year to activate your subscription; your 12-month subscription doesn't begin until you say so. Workbook, Notes, sample problems, exercises, and practice problems Study without a computer. Our workbook companion contains the same lecture notes and sample problems that are delivered online, as well as some additional exercises, all in a convenient print format. Answers to the odd-numbered exercises are in the back of the book. Online Subscription is required; workbook not sold separately. Intermediate Algebra Details Thinkwell's Intermediate Algebra has all the features your home school needs: More than 95 topics with 250+ engaging video lessons 1000+ interactive exercises with immediate feedback allow you to track your progress 23 animated interactivities with audio Real-world application examples in both lectures and exercises Closed captioning for all video lessons (most are also available in Spanish) Glossary of more than 200 mathematical terms Brand-new content to help students advance their mathematical knowledge: Foundations for algebra Equations, proportions, and percent Inequalities Functions Linear functions Systems of equations and inequalities Exponents and polynomials Factoring polynomials Quadratic functions and equations Data analysis and probability Exponential and radical functions Rational functions and equations Table of Contents 1. The Real Numbers 1.1 Introduction 1.1.1 An Introduction to Algebra 1.1.2 The Top Ten List of Mistakes 1.2 Properties of Real Numbers 1.2.1 Properties, Identities, & Inverses 1.3 Inequalities 1.3.1 Concepts of Inequality 1.3.2 Inequalities and Interval Notation 1.4 Absolute Value 1.4.1 Properties of Absolute Value 1.4.2 Evaluating Absolute Value Expressions 1.5 Operations on Real Numbers 1.5.1 Operations Considering Signs 1.5.2 Prime and Composite Numbers and Their Roots 1.5.3 Order of Operations 1.6 Conditional Statements 1.6.1 Forms of Conditional Statements 1.6.2 Inductive Reasoning 2. Equations and Inequalities 2.1 Equations in One Variable 2.1.1 An Introduction to Solving Equations 2.1.2 Equality or Identity? 2.1.3 Equivalent Equations and Equations with No Solution 2.1.4 Solving Linear Equations 2.2 Applications of Equations Using Formulas 2.2.1 An Introduction to Solving Word Problems 2.2.2 Finding Perimeter 2.2.3 Solving a Linear Geometry Problem 2.2.4 Solving for Constant Velocity 2.3 More Applications 2.3.1 Solving a Business Problem 2.3.2 Solving a Mixture Problem 2.3.3 Solving an Investment Problem 2.3.4 Solving for Consecutive Numbers 2.3.5 Finding an Average 2.4 Inequalities in One Variable 2.4.1 An Introduction to Solving Inequalities 2.4.2 Solving Inequalities 2.4.3 Solving Word Problems with Inequalities 2.5 Compound Inequalities 2.5.1 Sets, Intersections, and Unions 2.5.2 Solving Compound Inequalities 2.5.3 More on Compound Inequalities 2.6 Absolute Value Equations 2.6.1 Matching Number Lines with Absolute Value 2.6.2 Solving Absolute Value Equations 2.6.3 Solving Equations with Two Absolute Value Expressions 2.7 Absolute Value Inequalities 2.7.1 Solving Absolute Value Inequalities 2.7.2 Solving Absolute Value Inequalities: More Examples 3. Exponents and Polynomials 3.1 Understanding Exponents 3.1.1 An Introduction to Exponents 3.1.2 Evaluating Exponential Expressions 3.1.3 Applying the Rules of Exponents 3.1.4 Evaluating Expressions with Negative Exponents 3.2 Scientific Notation 3.2.1 Converting between Decimal and Scientific Notation 3.3 Polynomial Basics 3.3.1 Determining Components and Degree 3.3.2 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials 3.3.3 Multiplying Polynomials 3.4 Techniques for Multiplying Polynomials 3.4.1 The FOIL Method 3.4.2 Multiplying Big Products 3.4.3 Using Special Products 3.5 Techniques for Factoring 3.5.1 Factoring Using the Greatest Common Factor 3.5.2 Factoring by Grouping 3.5.3 Factoring Trinomials Completely 3.5.4 Factoring Trinomials: The Guess and Check Method 3.6 Special Factoring 3.6.1 Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials 3.6.2 Factoring the Difference of Two Squares 3.6.3 Factoring Sums and Differences of Cubes 3.6.4 Factoring by Any Method 3.7 Solving Equations by Factoring 3.7.1 The Zero Factor Property 3.8 Division of Polynomials 3.8.1 Using Long Division with Polynomials 3.8.2 Long Division: Another Example 3.9 Synthetic Division 3.9.1 Using Synthetic Division with Polynomials 3.9.2 More Synthetic Division 3.10 The Remainder Theorem 3.10.1 Using the Remainder Theorem 3.10.2 More on the Remainder Theorem 4. Rational Expressions 4.1 The Basics of Rational Expressions 4.1.1 An Introduction to Rational Expressions 4.1.2 Working with Fractions 4.1.3 Writing Rational Expressions in Lowest Terms 4.2 Operations with Rationals 4.2.1 Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions 4.2.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions 4.2.3 Rewriting Complex Fractions 4.3 Equations with Rationals 4.3.1 Solving a Linear Equation with Rationals 4.3.2 Solving a Linear Equation with Restrictions 4.4 Inequalities with Rationals 4.4.1 Solving Rational Inequalities 4.4.2 Solving Rational Inequalities: Another Example 4.4.3 Determining Domain 4.5 Applications 4.5.1 Solving a Problem About Work 4.5.2 Resistors in Parallel 4.6 Variation 4.6.1 An Introduction to Variation 4.6.2 Direct Proportion 4.6.3 Inverse Proportion 4.6.4 Joint and Combined Proportion 5. Roots and Radicals 5.1 Rational Exponents and Radicals 5.1.1 Radical Notation and Properties of Roots 5.1.2 Variables and Negative Values under a Radical 5.1.3 Converting Rational Exponents and Radicals 5.2 Simplifying Radical Expressions 5.2.1 Simplifying Radicals 5.2.2 Simplifying Radical Expressions with Variables 5.3 Operations with Radical Expressions 5.3.1 Adding and Subtracting Radical Expressions 5.3.2 Rationalizing Denominators 5.4 Equations with Radicals 5.4.1 Solving an Equation Containing a Radical 5.4.2 Solving Equations with Two Radical Expressions 5.4.3 Extraneous Roots 5.4.4 Solving an Equation with Rational Exponents 5.5 Complex Numbers 5.5.1 Introducing and Writing Complex Numbers 5.5.2 Rewriting Powers of i 5.5.3 Adding and Subtracting Complex Numbers 5.5.4 Multiplying Complex Numbers 5.5.5 Dividing Complex Numbers 5.6 Applications 5.6.1 Finding the Length of the Diagonal of a Cube 5.6.2 Finding the Distance and Midpoint between Two Points 5.6.3 Applications in Meteorology 6. Relations and Functions 6.1 The Rectangular Coordinate System 6.1.1 Using the Cartesian System 6.1.2 Thinking Visually 6.2 An Introduction to Functions 6.2.1 Introducing Relations and Functions 6.2.2 Functions and the Vertical Line Test 6.2.3 Function Notation and Values 6.3 Domain and Range 6.3.1 Finding Domain and Range 6.3.2 Domain and Range: An Explicit Example 6.3.3 Satisfying the Domain of a Function 6.3.4 Graphing Important Functions 6.4 The Algebra of Functions 6.4.1 Operations on Functions 6.4.2 Composite Functions 6.4.3 Components of Composite Functions 7. The Straight Line 7.1 The Slope of a Line 7.1.1 An Introduction to Slope 7.1.2 Finding the Slope Given Two Points 7.2 Graphing Linear Equations 7.2.1 Using Intercepts to Graph Lines 7.2.2 Working with Specific Lines 7.2.3 Interpreting Slope from a Graph 7.2.4 Graphing with a Point and the Slope 7.3 Linear Equations 7.3.1 Writing an Equation in Slope-Intercept Form 7.3.2 Writing an Equation Given Two Points 7.3.3 Writing an Equation in Point-Slope Form 7.3.4 Matching a Slope-Intercept Equation with its Graph 7.3.5 Slope for Parallel and Perpendicular Lines 7.4 Applications of Linear Concepts 7.4.1 Constructing a Linear Model from a Set of Data 7.4.2 Scatterplots and Predictions 7.4.3 Interpreting Line Graphs 7.4.4 Linear Cost and Revenue 8. Systems of Equations 8.1 Linear Systems in Two Variables 8.1.1 An Introduction to Linear Systems 8.1.2 Solving a System by Graphing 8.1.3 Solving a System by Substitution 8.1.4 Solving a System by Elimination 8.2 Linear Systems in Three Variables 8.2.1 An Introduction to Systems in Three Variables 8.2.2 Solving Systems with Three Variables 8.2.3 Solving Inconsistent Systems 8.2.4 Solving Dependent Systems 8.2.5 Solving Systems with Two Equations 8.3 Applications of Linear Systems 8.3.1 Investments 8.3.2 Partial Fractions 8.4 Solutions by Matrix Methods 8.4.1 An Introduction to Matrices 8.4.2 Using the Gauss-Jordan Method 8.4.3 Using Gauss-Jordan: Another Example 8.5 Determinants 8.5.1 Evaluating 2x2 Determinants 8.5.2 Evaluating nxn Determinants 8.6 Cramer's Rule 8.6.1 Using Cramer's Rule 8.6.2 Using Cramer's Rule in a 3x3 Matrix 8.7 Working with Inequalities 8.7.1 An Introduction to Graphing Linear Inequalities 8.7.2 Graphing Linear and Nonlinear Inequalities 8.7.3 Graphing the Solution Set of a System of Inequalities 8.8 Systems of Nonlinear Equations 8.8.1 Solving a Nonlinear System by Elimination 8.8.2 Solving a Nonlinear System by Substitution 9. Quadratic Equations and Inequalities 9.1 The Basics of Quadratics 9.1.1 An Introduction to Quadratics 9.1.2 Solving Quadratics by Factoring 9.2 Graphs of Quadratics 9.2.1 Finding x- and y-Intercepts 9.2.2 Nice-Looking Parabolas 9.2.3 Graphing Parabolas 9.3 Solving by Completing the Square 9.3.1 Solving by Completing the Square 9.3.2 Completing the Square: Another Example 9.3.3 Finding the Vertex by Completing the Square 9.4 Writing Quadratic Equations 9.4.1 Using the Vertex to Write the Equation 9.4.2 Building a Polynomial Equation from Its Solutions 9.5 Solving with the Quadratic Formula 9.5.1 Proving the Quadratic Formula 9.5.2 Using the Quadratic Formula 9.5.3 Predicting Types of Solution from the Discriminant 9.5.4 Using the Discriminant to Graph Parabolas 9.6 Equations Quadratic in Form 9.6.1 Solving for a Squared Variable 9.6.2 Finding Real Number Restrictions 9.6.3 Solving Fancy Quadratics 9.6.4 Horizontal Parabolas 9.7 Formulas and Applications 9.7.1 Solving a Quadratic Geometry Problem 9.7.2 Solving with the Pythagorean Theorem 9.7.3 Solving a Motion Problem 9.7.4 Solving a Projectile Problem 9.7.5 Solving Other Problems 9.8 Nonlinear Inequalities 9.8.1 Solving Quadratic Inequalities 9.8.2 Solving Quadratic Inequalities: Another Example 10. Conic Sections 10.1 Parabolas 10.1.1 An Introduction to Conic Sections 10.1.2 An Introduction to Parabolas 10.2 Equations for Parabolas 10.2.1 Determining Information about a Parabola from the Equation 10.2.2 Writing an Equation for a Parabola 10.3 Graphing Parabolas 10.3.1 Shifting Curves along Axes 10.3.2 Shifting or Translating Curves along Axes 10.3.3 Stretching a Graph 10.3.4 Graphing Quadratics Using Patterns 10.4 Applications of Parabolas 10.4.1 Finding the Maximum or Minimum of a Quadratic 10.4.2 Maximum Height in the Real World: A Bridge 10.5 Circles 10.5.1 The Center-Radius Equation of a Circle 10.5.2 Finding the Center or Radius of a Circle 10.5.3 Decoding the Circle Formula 10.5.4 Solving Circle Problems 10.6 Ellipses 10.6.1 An Introduction to Ellipses 10.6.2 Finding the Equation for an Ellipse 10.6.3 Applying Ellipses: Satellites 10.7 Hyperbolas 10.7.1 An Introduction to Hyperbolas 10.7.2 Finding the Equation for a Hyperbola 10.7.3 Applying Hyperbolas: Navigation 10.8 Identifying Conic Sections 10.8.1 Identifying a Conic 10.8.2 Name That Conic 10.9 Square Root Functions 10.9.1 Conic Halves 11. Inverse, Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 11.1 Inverse Functions 11.1.1 Understanding Inverse Functions 11.1.2 The Horizontal Line Test 11.1.3 Are Two Functions Inverses of Each Other? 11.1.4 Graphing the Inverse 11.1.5 Finding the Inverse of a Function 11.2 Exponential Functions 11.2.1 An Introduction to Exponential Functions 11.2.2 Graphing Exponential Functions: Patterns 11.2.3 Graphing Exponential Functions: More Patterns 11.2.4 The Number e 11.3 Using Exponential Functions 11.3.1 Using Properties of Exponents to Solve Exponential Functions 11.3.2 Finding Present and Future Value 11.3.3 Finding an Interest Rate to Match Goals 11.4 Logarithmic Functions 11.4.1 An Introduction to Logarithmic Functions 11.4.2 Converting between Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 11.4.3 Graphing Logarithmic Functions 11.4.4 Matching Logarithmic Functions with Their Graphs 11.5 Properties of Logarithms 11.5.1 Properties of Logarithms 11.5.2 Expanding a Logarithmic Expression with Properties 11.5.3 Combining Logarithmic Expressions 11.6 Evaluating Logarithms 11.6.1 Finding the Value of a Logarithmic Function 11.6.2 Solving for x in Logarithmic Equations 11.6.3 Using the Logarithmic Change of Base Formula 11.6.4 Evaluating Logarithmic Functions with a Calculator 11.7 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations 11.7.1 Solving Exponential Equations 11.7.2 Solving Logarithmic Equations 11.7.3 Solving Equations with Logarithmic Exponents 11.8 Applications of Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 11.8.1 Compound Interest 11.8.2 Predicting Change 11.9 Exponential Growth and Decay 11.9.1 An Introduction to Exponential Growth and Decay 11.9.2 Half Life 11.9.3 Newton's Law of Cooling 11.9.4 Continuously Compounded Interest 12. Further Topics 12.1 Sequences and Series 12.1.1 General and Specific Terms 12.1.2 Understanding Sequence Problems 12.1.3 Series Notation, Definitions and Evaluating 12.2 Arithmetic Sequences 12.2.1 Finding Terms in Arithmetic Sequences 12.2.2 Finding the Sum of an Arithmetic Sequence 12.3 Geometric Sequences 12.3.1 Finding Terms in Geometric Sequences 12.3.2 Finding the Sum of a Geometric Sequence 12.4 The Binomial Theorem 12.4.1 Using the Binomial Theorem 12.4.2 Binomial Coefficients nd his teaching expertise combine to make him the ideal presenter of Thinkwell's entertaining and informative video lectures.   About the Author Edward Burger Edward Burger is an award-winning professor with a passion for teaching mathematics. Since 2013, Edward Burger has been President of Southwestern University, a top-ranked liberal arts college in Georgetown, Texas. Previously, he was Professor of Mathematics at Williams College. Dr. Burger earned his Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin, having graduated summa cum laude with distinction in mathematics from Connecticut College. Prof. Burger's unique sense of humor and his teaching expertise combine to make him the ideal presenter of Thinkwell's entertaining and informative video lectures.