Essential Algebra

This no-nonsense guide provides students and self-learners with a clear and readable study of algebra's most important ideas. Tim Hill's distraction-free approach combines decades of tutoring experience with the methods of his old-school Russian math teachers. The result: learn in a few days what conventional schools stretch into months. Teaches general principles that can be applied to a wide variety of problems. Avoids the mindless and excessive routine computations that characterize conventional textbooks. Treats algebra as a logically coherent discipline, not as a disjointed collection of techniques. Restores proofs to their proper place to remove doubt, convey insight, and encourage precise logical thinking. Omits digressions, excessive formalities, and repetitive exercises. Covers all the algebra needed to take a calculus course. Includes solutions to all problems.

Contents 1. To the Student 2. A Few Prereqs 3. Exponents 4. Polynomials 5. Factoring 6. Linear & Quadratic Equations 7. Inequalities & Absolute Values 8. Coordinates in a Plane 9. Functions & Graphs 10. Straight Lines 11. Circles 12. Parabolas 13. Types of Functions 14. Logarithms 15. Dividing Polynomials 16. Systems of Linear Equations 17. Geometric Progressions & Series 18. Arithmetic Progressions 19. Permutation & Combinations 20. The Binomial Theorem 21. Mathematical Induction 22. Problems & Solutions

About the AuthorTim Hill is a private math tutor based in Las Vegas, Nevada. When he's not crunching numbers, Tim plays poker, hikes canyons, and avoids malls.