Pre-calculus (Rea's Problem Solvers) - Softcover

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

This book can be an invaluable aid to students in pre-calculus as a supplement to their textbooks. The book is subdivided into 55 chapters, each dealing with a separate topic. The subject matter is developed beginning with algebraic, trigonmetric, exponential, logarithmic functions and their graphs and extends through linear and quadratic equations, analytic geometry, elementary statistics, differentiation and integration, determinants, matrices, and systems of equations. An extensive number of applications have been included, since these appear to be most troublesome to students.

Each chapter in the book begins with a section entitled "Basic Attacks and Strategies for Solving Problems in this Chapter." This section explains the principles which are applicable to the topics in the chapter. By reviewing these principles, the student can acquire a good grasp of the underlying techniques and strategies through which problems related to the chapter may be solved.

HOW TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND
A TOPIC THOROUGHLY

1. Refer to your class text and read the section pertaining to the topic. You should become acquainted with the principles discussed there. These principles, however, may not be clear to you at the time.

2. Then locate the topic you are looking for by referring to the "Table of Contents" in the front of this book. After turning to the appropriate chapter, read the section "Basic Attacks and Strategies for Solving Problems in this Chapter." This section is a review of the important principles related to the chapter, and it will help you to understand further how and why problems in the chapter are solved in the manner shown.

3. Turn to the page where the topic begins and review the problems under each topic, in the order given. For each topic, the problems are arranged in order of complexity, from the simplest to the more difficult. Some problems may appear similar to others, but each problem has been selected to illustrate a different point or solution method.