Margaret L. Lial (1927–2012)

This is, in my opinion, the worst mathematics textbook at this level I have ever encountered. Basically, in stretching from Algebra I to Calculus I in less than 900 pages of main text, this tries to do too much. Here is a list of particular issues I have, which I stopped adding to less than half-way through:

- A serious lack of set theory basis, so that solving an equation is no different from solve for a variable. (There is no concept of solution set)
- Intercepts are treated as values, not show more points
- They encourage by example negative lead coefficients in denominators
- There is a missing introduction of basic functions leading to no clear development of transformations in graphing.
- The integrated My Math Lab material misleads students by not using parentheses in logarithms
- The modeling of exponential growth with P(t) = Pe^(rt) is artlessly handled so that the concept of r relating to percentage growth over unit of time is lost.

Commonly as with other texts of this content and era, intercepts are not required to be point notation and this confuses students later, says, with axis of symmetry. Value or linear equation?

The textbook author and integrated My Math Lab content does not sufficiently differentiate from natural base e or other base models. In a specific problem, both natural base and calculated base should be accepted but they are not. e as a base could be the first pass by a student
reading page 193 of the book. The base-e solution is not accepted. (Also four decimals of accuracy is unnecessary. Three would be better. Specifically, three decimals makes it easier to point students to various online calculators when they don't have a TI or equivalent. Basically, it would be best to use this book only when TI-83 or -84 is required) show less

Been a while since that high school algebra class? And now you're up against a college admission exam or a math placement exam and need a refresher? This book is structured so that it can be used in a classroom setting or as a book for individual, self-paced study. The text begins with real numbers and goes through quadratic equations, or roughly the equivalent of a junior high or high school Algebra I class. It's easy to use, easy to learn from, and each module builds upon the last.

But if show more you have a math whiz kid in the family, hide the book. They seem to find it quite funny that Mom at 40-something is struggling to relearn the algebra that they mastered in their sleep! :-) show less

easy to understand basic calculations but not to the level of a student at 9th grade.

I took trigonometry this year and my boyfriend gave me this book. It was very helpful.