Precalculus, 8th edition
Title overview
For courses in Precalculus.
"Your world is profoundly mathematical."
In Precalculus Bob Blitzer continues to support and inspire, making his texts beloved year after year by students and instructors alike. Blitzer's engaging approach and unique background in mathematics and behavioral science inform a wide range of applications (drawn from pop culture and up-to-date references), appealing to students of all majors by connecting math to their lives.
The 8th Edition incorporates over 150 new and updated exercises. Applications have been revised or replaced throughout, covering topics such as Chat GPT and Claude AI, internship lengths, cable subscriptions, average student loan debt, podcast listeners, and many others.
Hallmark features of this title
- Voice balloons translate algebraic ideas into everyday English, clarify problem-solving procedures, and more.
- Check Point Examples: Each example is followed by a similar matched problem to help students test their understanding.
- Great Question! presents study tips in the context of students' questions. Answers offer problem solving suggestions, point out errors to avoid, and give hints and suggestions.
- Graphing and Functions that model data appear in nearly every section and exercise set.
- Brief Review boxes summarize the key mathematical skills students need to master chapter objectives, appearing where a skill is first needed.
- Section Exercise Sets are ample and consistently organized, helping instructors create assignments that meet student needs.
New and updated features of this title
- Over 150 new and updated exercises are incorporated throughout.
- A wealth of new applications include:
- U.S. Pet Ownership by Household; U.S. College Students’ Use of Messaging Apps; Impact of Social Media; Uber’s Annual Revenue; Monthly ChatGPT Website Visits, in Billions
- Median Student Loan Debt by Major in 2022; Number of Monthly Podcast Listeners in the U.S.; Number of eBikes Sold in the U.S.; Preference for Weights, Cardio, or Group/Yoga Classes; and many more.
- Revised and updated applications include:
- Average Salary; Grade Inflation; Education Pays Off; Car Prices and Age of Cars on U.S. Roads; Television Viewing, by Annual Income; Higher-Education Government Aid per U.S. College Student; Costco Paid Memberships; Gray Wolf Population; Three of the Richest Comedians; and many others.
Key features
Features of MyLab Math for the 8th Edition
- NEW: New instructional videos are provided for every objective in the text.
- Gradable GeoGebra Graphing Exercises enable students to interact directly with the graph as they would graph on paper.
- Pre-built assignments include Integrated Review at the chapter level that provides a Skills Check assessment to pinpoint prerequisites topics that might require review.
- Video Assignments featuring short videos with corresponding MyLab Math exercises are available for each section of the text.
- Enhanced Assignments are section-level assignments that include just-in-time prerequisite review, help keep skills fresh by reinforcing key concepts, and provide opportunities to work selected exercises without learning aids so students check their understanding.
Table of contents
P. Prerequisites: Fundamental Concepts of Algebra
- P.1 Algebraic Expressions, Mathematical Models, and Real Numbers
- P.2 Exponents and Scientific Notation
- P.3 Radicals and Rational Exponents
- P.4 Polynomials
- P.5 Factoring Polynomials
- P.6 Rational Expressions
- P.7 Equations
- P.8 Modeling with Equations
- P.9 Linear Inequalities and Absolute Value Inequalities
- Summary, Review, and Test
- Review Exercises
- Chapter P Test
1. Functions and Graphs
- 1.1 Graphs and Graphing Utilities
- 1.2 Basics of Functions and Their Graphs
- 1.3 More on Functions and Their Graphs
- 1.4 Linear Functions and Slope
- 1.5 More on Slope
- 1.6 Transformations of Functions
- 1.7 Combinations of Functions; Composite Functions
- 1.8 Inverse Functions
- 1.9 Distance and Midpoint Formulas; Circles
- 1.10 Modeling with Functions
2. Polynomial and Rational Functions
- 2.1 Complex Numbers
- 2.2 Quadratic Functions
- 2.3 Polynomial Functions and Their Graphs
- 2.4 Dividing Polynomials; Remainder and Factor Theorems
- 2.5 Zeros of Polynomial Functions
- 2.6 Rational Functions and Their Graphs
- 2.7 Polynomial and Rational Inequalities
- 2.8 Modeling Using Variation
3. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
- 3.1 Exponential Functions
- 3.2 Logarithmic Functions
- 3.3 Properties of Logarithms
- 3.4 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
- 3.5 Exponential Growth and Decay; Modeling Data
4. Trigonometric Functions
- 4.1 Angles and Radian Measure
- 4.2 Trigonometric Functions: The Unit Circle
- 4.3 Right Triangle Trigonometry
- 4.4 Trigonometric Functions of Any Angle
- 4.5 Graphs of Sine and Cosine Functions
- 4.6 Graphs of Other Trigonometric Functions
- 4.7 Inverse Trigonometric Functions
- 4.8 Applications of Trigonometric Functions
5. Analytic Trigonometry
- 5.1 Verifying Trigonometric Identities
- 5.2 Sum and Difference Formulas
- 5.3 Double-Angle, Power-Reducing, and Half-Angle Formulas
- 5.4 Product-to-Sum and Sum-to-Product Formulas
- 5.5 Trigonometric Equations
6. Additional Topics in Trigonometry
- 6.1 The Law of Sines
- 6.2 The Law of Cosines
- 6.3 Polar Coordinates
- 6.4 Graphs of Polar Equations
- 6.5 Complex Numbers in Polar Form; DeMoivre's Theorem
- 6.6 Vectors
- 6.7 The Dot Product
7. Systems of Equations and Inequalities
- 7.1 Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables
- 7.2 Systems of Linear Equations in Three Variables
- 7.3 Partial Fractions
- 7.4 Systems of Nonlinear Equations in Two Variables
- 7.5 Systems of Inequalities
- 7.6 Linear Programming
8. Matrices and Determinants
- 8.1 Matrix Solutions to Linear Systems
- 8.2 Inconsistent and Dependent Systems and Their Applications
- 8.3 Matrix Operations and Their Applications
- 8.4 Multiplicative Inverses of Matrices and Matrix Equations
- 8.5 Determinants and Cramer's Rule
9. Conic Sections and Analytic Geometry
- 9.1 The Ellipse
- 9.2 The Hyperbola
- 9.3 The Parabola
- 9.4 Rotation of Axes
- 9.5 Parametric Equations
- 9.6 Conic Sections in Polar Coordinates
10. Sequences, Induction, and Probability
- 10.1 Sequences and Summation Notation
- 10.2 Arithmetic Sequences
- 10.3 Geometric Sequences and Series
- 10.4 Mathematical Induction
- 10.5 The Binomial Theorem
- 10.6 Counting Principles, Permutations, and Combinations
- 10.7 Probability
11. Introduction to Calculus
- 11.1 Finding Limits Using Tables and Graphs
- 11.2 Finding Limits Using Properties of Limits
- 11.3 Limits and Continuity
- 11.4 Introduction to Derivatives
Author bios
About our author
Bob Blitzer is a native of Manhattan and received a Bachelor of Arts degree with dual majors in mathematics and psychology (minor: English literature) from the City College of New York. His unusual combination of academic interests led him toward a Master of Arts in mathematics from the University of Miami and a doctorate in behavioral sciences from Nova University. Bob’s love for teaching mathematics was nourished for nearly 30 years at Miami Dade College, where he received numerous teaching awards, including Innovator of the Year from the League for Innovations in the Community College and an endowed chair based on excellence in the classroom.
Bob has written textbooks covering developmental mathematics, introductory algebra, intermediate algebra, trigonometry, algebra and trigonometry, precalculus, and liberal arts mathematics, all published by Pearson. When not secluded in his Northern California writer’s cabin, Bob can be found hiking the beaches and trails of Point Reyes National Seashore and tending to the chores required by his beloved entourage of horses, chickens, and irritable roosters.