Amazon.com Book Description (ISBN 0534384285, Hardcover)

This text provides an introduction to the entire modeling process. Throughout the book, students practice key facets of modeling, including creative and empirical model construction, model analysis, and model research. The authors apply a proven six-step problem solving process to enhance a student's problem solving capabilities. Rather than simply emphasizing the calculation step, the authors first ensure that students learn how to identify problems, construct or select models, and figure out what data needs to be collected. By involving students in the mathematical process as early as possible, beginning with short projects, the book facilitates their progressive development and confidence in mathematics and modeling.

Amazon.com Book Description (ISBN 053422248X, Hardcover)

Now with discrete mathematics, this edition makes it possible to organize an entire course without the use of calculus. However, if you wish to cover the chapters requiring calculus, the book's unique organization permits use to concurrently teach the introductory calculus course -- as early as the first semester of the freshman year. Plus, the book's rich choice of topics provide an introduction to the operations research and quantitative management science courses. This text gives students an opportunity to cover all phases of the mathematical modeling process, including creative and empirical model construction, model analysis, and model research using clearly defined techniques, such as modeling using graphs, modeling using proportionality, and modeling fitting.