College Mathematics for Trades & Technologies, 11th edition

Published by Pearson (December 31, 2025) © 2026

  • Cheryl Cleaves Southwest Tennessee Community College , State Technical Institute at Memphis
  • Margie Hobbs University of Mississippi
  • Deana Richmond
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In this eTextbook — More ways to learn

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  • More interactive. Bring learning to life with audio, videos, and diagrams.
  • More memorable. Make concepts stick with highlights, search, notes, and flashcards.
  • More understandable. Translate text into 100+ languages with one tap.

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$67.99
Instant access

In this eTextbook — More ways to learn

  • More flexible. Start learning right away, on any device.
  • More supportive. Get AI explanations and practice questions (select titles).
  • More interactive. Bring learning to life with audio, videos, and diagrams.
  • More memorable. Make concepts stick with highlights, search, notes, and flashcards.
  • More understandable. Translate text into 100+ languages with one tap.

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Title overview

College Mathematics for Trades and Technologies helps you gain a solid understanding of the basic math, algebra and geometry needed for many career programs. The authors present mathematical topics in the context of trade applications so you can connect those concepts to your future career. Career-coded examples and exercises focus on a wide variety of careers, including Healthcare, Business and Personal Finance, Aviation, Hospitality, Industrial Trades, Automotive, Telecommunication, Electronics, Construction, Manufacturing, and more. A 6-step approach to problem solving provides a systematic and logical framework for analyzing, comparing, estimating and solving workplace applications.

The 11th Edition updates data and references throughout to ensure currency. Revised career categories incorporate changing and emerging technologies and combine overlapping fields; examples and exercises use these codes to indicate the career or field reflected in the problem. Personal finance applications are emphasized, and throughout the text is revised for greater clarity and readability.

Table of contents

1. Basic Concepts

  • 1-1 Basic Operations with Whole Numbers and Decimal Numbers
  • 1-2 Exponents, Roots, and Powers of 10
  • 1-3 Order of Operations and Problem Solving

2. Fractions and Decimals

  • 2-1 Multiples and Factors
  • 2-2 Equivalent Fractions and Decimals
  • 2-3 Adding and Subtracting Fractions and Mixed Numbers
  • 2-4 Multiplying and Dividing Fractions and Mixed Numbers

3. Percents

  • 3-1 Percent and Number Equivalents
  • 3-2 Percentage Problems
  • 3-3 Increase and Decrease
  • CHAPTERS 1 - 3 CUMULATIVE PRACTICE TEST

4. Measurement

  • 4-1 The U.S. Customary System of Measurement
  • 4-2 Introduction to the Metric System
  • 4-3 Time, Temperature, and Other Measures
  • 4-4 Metric–U.S. Customary Comparisons
  • 4-5 Accuracy, Precision, and Error

5. Integers, Rational Numbers, and Scientific Notation

  • 5-1 Adding Integers
  • 5-2 Subtracting Integers
  • 5-3 Multiplying and Dividing Integers
  • 5-4 Rational Numbers
  • 5-5 Powers of 10
  • 5-6 Scientific Notation

6. Statistics

  • 6-1 Reading Circle, Bar, and Line Graphs
  • 6-2 Measures of Central Tendency
  • 6-3 Measures of Dispersion
  • 6-4 Counting Techniques and Simple Probabilities
  • CHAPTERS 4 - 6 CUMULATIVE PRACTICE TEST

7. Linear Equations and Inequalities

  • 7-1 Variable Notation
  • 7-2 Solving Linear Equations
  • 7-3 Solving Linear Equations with Fractions and Decimals by Clearing the Denominators
  • 7-4 Solving Linear Equations and Formulas for Personal Finance or Business Applications
  • 7-5 Inequalities and Sets
  • 7-6 Solving Linear Inequalities
  • 7-7 Solving Compound Inequalities

8. Formulas, Proportion, and Variation

  • 8-1 Formulas
  • 8-2 Proportion
  • 8-3 Direct and Joint Variation
  • 8-4 Inverse and Combined Variation

9. Linear Equations, Functions, and Inequalities in Two Variables

  • 9-1 Graphical Representation of Linear Equations and Functions
  • 9-2 Graphing Linear Equations and Inequalities in Two Variables Using Alternative Methods
  • 9-3 Slope
  • 9-4 Linear Equations and Inequalities

10. Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities

  • 10-1 Solving Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities Graphically
  • 10-2 Solving Systems of Linear Equations Using the Elimination Method
  • 10-3 Solving Systems of Linear Equations Using the Substitution Method
  • 10-4 Problem Solving Using Systems of Linear Equations
  • CHAPTERS 7 - 10 CUMULATIVE PRACTICE TEST

11. Exponents and Polynomials

  • 11-1 Laws of Exponents
  • 11-2 Polynomials
  • 11-3 Basic Operations with Polynomials

12. Roots and Radicals

  • 12-1 Irrational Numbers and Real Numbers
  • 12-2 Simplifying Irrational Expressions
  • 12-3 Basic Operations with Square-Root Radicals
  • 12-4 Complex and Imaginary Numbers

13. Factoring

  • 13-1 The Distributive Property and Common Factors
  • 13-2 Factoring Special Products
  • 13-3 Factoring General Trinomials

14. Rational Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities

  • 14-1 Simplifying Rational Expressions
  • 14-2 Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions
  • 14-3 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
  • 14-4 Solving Equations and Inequalities with Rational Expressions

15. Quadratic and Other Nonlinear Equations and Inequalities

  • 15-1 Solving Quadratic Equations Using the Square-Root Method
  • 15-2 Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring
  • 15-3 Solving Quadratic Equations by Completing the Square or Using the Quadratic Formula
  • 15-4 Graphing Quadratic Functions
  • 15-5 Solving Higher-Degree Equations by Factoring
  • 15-6 Solving Quadratic Inequalities
  • 15-7 Solving Equations and Inequalities Containing One Absolute-Value Expression
  • CHAPTERS 11 - 15 CUMULATIVE PRACTICE TEST

16. Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

  • 16-1 Exponential Expressions, Equations, and Formulas
  • 16-2 Logarithmic Expressions, Equations, and Formulas

17. Geometry

  • 17-1 Lines and Angles
  • 17-2 Polygons
  • 17-3 Circles and Radians
  • 17-4 Volume and Surface Area

18. Triangles

  • 18-1 Special Triangle Relationships
  • 18-2 Pythagorean Theorem
  • 18-3 Inscribed and Circumscribed Regular Polygons and Circles
  • 18-4 Distance and Midpoints
  • CHAPTERS 16 - 18 CUMULATIVE PRACTICE TEST

19. Right-Angle Trigonometry

  • 19-1 Trigonometric Functions
  • 19-2 Solving Right Triangles Using the Sine, Cosine, and Tangent Functions

20. Angle Trigonometry

  • 20-1 Vectors
  • 20-2 Trigonometric Functions for Any Angle
  • 20-3 Period and Phase Shift
  • 20-4 Law of Sines
  • 20-5 Law of Cosines
  • CHAPTERS 19 - 20 CUMULATIVE PRACTICE TEST

Online Appendices available in MyLab Math:

  • A. Measuring Instruments
  • B. Number Systems
  • C. Matrices and Determinants
  • D. Conic Sections

Selected Answers to Student Exercise Material

Glossary and Index

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