Understanding Intermediate Algebra

1. The fundamental concepts. Basic Definitions: The Real Numbers and the Real Number Line. Operations with Real Numbers. Algebraic Expressions. Translating Phrases and Sentences into Algebraic Form. First-Degree Equations and Inequalities. Chapter Summary, Review Exercises, and Practice Test. 2. Equations and inequalities. Equations as Mathematical Models. First-Degree Equations and Applications. First-Degree Inequalities and Applications. Absolute-Value Equations and Inequalities. Chapter Summary, Review Exercises, and Practice Test. 3. Graphing straight lines and functions. The Rectangular Coordinate System and Graphing Straight Lines. Graphs and Equations. Relations and Functions: Basic Concepts. Function Notation. Interpreting Graphs. Chapter Summary, Review Exercises, and Practice Test. 4. Equations of a line and linear systems in two variables. Straight Lines and Slope. Equations of a Line and Linear Functions as Mathematical Models. Linear Systems in Two Variables. Graphing Linear Inequalities in Two Variables. Chapter Summary, Review Exercises, and Practice Test. 5. Polynomial functions. Polynomial Functions as Mathematical Models. Polynomials: Sums, Differences, and Products. General Forms and Special Products. Factoring out the Greatest Common Factor. Factoring Trinomials. Solving Polynomial Equations by Factoring. Polynomial Division. Chapter Summary, Review Exercises, and Practice Test. 6. Rational expressions and functions. Equivalent Fractions. Multiplication and Division of Rational Expressions. Sums and Differences of Rational Expressions. Mixed Operations and Complex Fractions. Fractional Equations and Inequalities. Literal Equations. Rational Functions and Equations as Mathematical Models. Chapter Summary, Review Exercises, and Practice Test. Cumulative Review and Practice Test: Chapters 4-6. 7. Exponents and radicals. Natural Number and Integer Exponents. Scientific Notation. Rational Exponents and Radical Notation. Simplifying Radical Expressions. Adding and Subtracting Radical Expressions. Multiplying and Dividing Radical Expressions. Radical Functions and Equations. Complex Numbers. Chapter Summary, Review Exercises, and Practice Test. 8. Quadratic functions. Quadratic Functions as Mathematical Models. Solving Quadratic Equations: The Factoring and Square Root Methods. Solving Quadratic Equations: Completing the Square. Solving Quadratic Equations: The Quadratic Formula. Equations Reducible to Quadratic Form (and More Radical Equations). Graphing Quadratic Functions. Quadratic and Rational Inequalities. The Distance Formula: Circles. Chapter Summary, Review Exercises, and Practice Test. 9. More on functions. More on Function Notation: Split Functions. Composition and the Algebra of Functions. Types of Functions. Inverse Functions. Variation. Chapter Summary, Review Exercises, and Practice Test. Cumulative Review and Practice Test: Chapters 7-9. 10. Exponential and logarithmic functions. (Part contents).