Essentials of College Algebra, 12th edition

Published by Pearson (January 3, 2018) © 2019

  • Margaret L. Lial American River College
  • John Hornsby University of New Orleans
  • David I. Schneider University of Maryland
  • Callie J. Daniels St. Charles Community College

eTextbook

per month

  • Anytime, anywhere learning with the Pearson+ app
  • Easy-to-use search, navigation and notebook
  • Simpler studying with flashcards
from$127.99

  • Hardcover, paperback or looseleaf edition
  • Affordable rental option for select titles
  • Free shipping on looseleafs and traditional textbooks

MyLab

from$89.99

  • Reach every student with personalized support
  • Customize courses with ease
  • Optimize learning with dynamic study tools

For courses in College Algebra.

Steadfast support for your evolving course

In Essentials of College Algebra, the experience of master teachers helps students develop both the conceptual understanding and analytical skills needed to succeed in mathematics. The 12th Edition offers a new suite of resources to support today's instructors and students, including a complete suite of instructional materials. A systematic approach engages students in the learning process; the variety of examples and exercise types promotes conceptual understanding and reduces rote memorization. Ample opportunities for review appear throughout and at the end of chapters to support review and test preparation.

Hallmark features of this title

  • The variety of exercise types promotes conceptual understanding and reduces rote memorization.
  • Pointers in the examples provide on-the-spot reminders and warnings about common pitfalls.
  • Now Try exercises conclude every example with a reference to one or more parallel, odd-numbered exercises from the corresponding exercise set.
  • Connections boxes relate content to the real world or to other mathematical concepts, historical backgrounds and thought-provoking questions for writing, class discussion or group work.
  • Cumulative Review Tests assess progress and are followed by Cumulative Review assignments in the homework and test manager.
  • MyNotes and MyClassroomExamples note-taking guides organize students in the classroom and while working independently.

New and updated features of this title

  • Nearly 700 of the exercises are new or revised.
  • New Concept Preview Exercises now begin each homework section to ensure students' understanding of vocabulary and basic concepts, especially for hybrid, online and flipped courses.  

Features of MyLab Math for the 12th Edition

  • Guided Visualizations enable users to interact with and manipulate figures to bring math concepts to life. These are assignable in MyLab Math and available to show in class with accompanying as Exploratory Exercises in the Multimedia Library.
  • Concept Preview Exercises now begin each homework section to ensure students' understanding of vocabulary and basic concepts, especially for hybrid, online and flipped courses. These are also assignable in MyLab Math and Learning Catalytics.
  • Skill Builder offers adaptive practice designed to increase students' ability to complete assignments. Skill Builder adapts to each student's needs and provides just-in-time, in-assignment practice to help them improve their proficiency.
  • Integrated Review edition of the MyLab course is available: Can be used in co-requisite courses, or simply to help students who enter college algebra without a full understanding of prerequisite skills and concepts.
    • Integrated Review MyLab courses provide a full suite of supporting resources, plus additional assignments and study aids from select intermediate algebra topics for students who will benefit from remediation.
    • Assignments for the integrated review content are preassigned in MyLab, making it easier than ever for instructors to create their courses.
  • Preface
  • Resources for Success

R. Review of Basic Concepts

  • R.1 Sets
  • R.2 Real Numbers and Their Properties
  • R.3 Polynomials
  • R.4 Factoring Polynomials
  • R.5 Rational Expressions
  • R.6 Rational Exponents
  • R.7 Radical Expressions

1. Equations and Inequalities

  • 1.1 Linear Equations
  • 1.2 Applications and Modeling with Linear Equations
  • 1.3 Complex Numbers
  • 1.4 Quadratic Equations
  • 1.5 Applications and Modeling with Quadratic Equations
  • 1.6 Other Types of Equations and Applications
  • 1.7 Inequalities
  • 1.8 Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities
  • Test Prep
  • Review Exercises
  • Test

2. Graphs and Functions

  • 2.1 Rectangular Coordinates and Graphs
  • 2.2 Circles
  • 2.3 Functions
  • 2.4 Linear Functions
  • 2.5 Equations of Lines and Linear Models
  • 2.6 Graphs of Basic Functions
  • 2.7 Graphing Techniques
  • 2.8 Function Operations and Composition
  • Test Prep
  • Review Exercises
  • Test

3. Polynomials and Rational Functions

  • 3.1 Quadratic Functions and Models
  • 3.2 Synthetic Division
  • 3.3 Zeros of Polynomial Functions
  • 3.4 Polynomial Functions: Graphs, Applications, and Models
  • 3.5 Rational Functions: Graphs, Applications, and Models
  • 3.6 Variation
  • Test Prep
  • Review Exercises
  • Test

4. Inverse, Exponential, and Logarithmic Functions

  • 4.1 Inverse Functions
  • 4.2 Exponential Functions
  • 4.3 Logarithmic Functions
  • 4.4 Evaluating Logarithms and the Change-of-Base Theorem
  • 4.5 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
  • 4.6 Applications and Models of Exponential Growth and Decay
  • Test Prep
  • Review Exercises
  • Test

5. Systems and Matrices

  • 5.1 Systems of Linear Equations
  • 5.2 Matrix Solution of Linear Systems
  • 5.3 Determinant Solution of Linear Systems
  • 5.4 Partial Fractions
  • 5.5 Nonlinear Systems of Equations
  • 5.6 Systems of Inequalities and Linear Programming
  • 5.7 Properties of Matrices
  • 5.8 Matrix Inverses
  • Test Prep
  • Review Exercises
  • Test

About our authors

The late Marge Lial was always interested in math; it was her favorite subject in the first grade! Marge's intense desire to educate both her students and herself has inspired the writing of numerous best-selling textbooks. Marge, who received Bachelor's and Master's degrees from California State University at Sacramento, was affiliated with American River College. An avid reader and traveler, her travel experiences often found their way into her books as applications, exercise sets, and feature sets. Her interest in archeology led to trips to various digs and ruin sites, producing some fascinating problems for her textbooks involving such topics as the building of Mayan pyramids and the acoustics of ancient ball courts in the Yucatan. 

When John Hornsby enrolled as an undergraduate at Louisiana State University, he was uncertain whether he wanted to study mathematics education or journalism. His ultimate decision was to become a teacher, but after 25 years of teaching at the high school and university levels and 15 years of writing mathematics textbooks, both of his goals have been realized. His love for both teaching and for mathematics is evident in his passion for working with students and fellow teachers as well. His specific professional interests are recreational mathematics, mathematics history, and incorporating graphing calculators into the curriculum. John's personal life is busy as he devotes time to his family (wife Gwen, and sons Chris, Jack and Josh), and has been an avid baseball fan all of his life. John's other hobbies include numismatics (the study of coins) and record collecting. He loves the music of the 1960s and has an extensive collection of the recorded works of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. 

David Schneider has taught mathematics at universities for over 34 years and has authored 36 books. He has an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Oberlin College and a PhD in mathematics from MIT. During most of his professional career, he was on the faculty of the University of Maryland - College Park. His hobbies include travel, dancing, bicycling and hiking.

Callie Daniels has always had a passion for learning mathematics and brings that passion into the classroom with her students. She attended the University of the Ozarks on an athletic scholarship, playing both basketball and tennis. While there, she earned a bachelor's degree in Secondary Mathematics Education as well as the NAIA Academic All-American Award. She has two master's degrees: one in Applied Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Missouri - Rolla, the second in Adult Education from the University of Missouri - St. Louis. Her hobbies include watching her sons play sports, riding horses, fishing, shooting photographs and playing guitar. Her professional interests include improving success in the community college mathematics sequence, using technology to enhance students' understanding of mathematics, and creating materials that support classroom teaching and student understanding.

Need help? Get in touch

MyLab

Customize your course to teach your way. MyLab® is a flexible platform merging world-class content with dynamic study tools. It takes a personalized approach designed to ignite each student's unique potential. And, with the freedom it affords to adapt your pedagogy, you can reinforce select concepts and guide students to real results.

Pearson+

All in one place. Pearson+ offers instant access to eTextbooks, videos and study tools in one intuitive interface. Students choose how they learn best with enhanced search, audio and flashcards. The Pearson+ app lets them read where life takes them, no wi-fi needed. Students can access Pearson+ through a subscription or their MyLab or Mastering course.

Video
Play
Privacy and cookies
By watching, you agree Pearson can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

Empower your students, in class and beyond

Meet students where they are with MyLab®, and capture their attention in every lecture, activity, and assignment using immersive content, customized tools, and interactive learning experiences in your discipline.