Fr o m t h e A u t h o r s
Welcome
M a th is a p o w e r fu l to o l w ith fa r-re a c h in g a p p lic a tio n s th ro u g h o u t y o u r life. W e h a v e
designed a unique and engaging program that will enable you to tap into the power
of mathematics and mathematical reasoning. This award-winning program has been
developed to align fully to the Common Core State Standards.
D e v e lo p in g m a th e m a tic a l u n d e rs ta n d in g a n d p ro b le m -s o lv in g a b ilitie s is a n o n g o in g
p ro c e s s — a jo u rn e y b o th in s id e a n d o u ts id e th e c la s s ro o m. This c o u rs e is d e s ig n e d to
help make sense of the mathematics you encounter in and out of class each day and
to help you deve lo p m athem atical proficiency.
You w ill learn im p o rta nt m athem atical principles. You w ill also learn h ow the principles
are connected to one another and to w hat you already know. You w ill learn to solve
problems and learn the reasoning that lies behind your solutions. You will also develop
the key m athem atical practices o f the C om m on C o re State S tandards.
Each chapter begins w ith the "big ideas" o f the chapter and some essential questions
that you w ill learn to answer. Through this question-and-answ er process you w ill develop
y o u r a b ility to a n a ly z e p ro b le m s in d e p e n d e n tly a n d so lve them in d iffe re n t a p p lic a tio n s.
Your skills and confidence w ill increase through practice and review. W ork through
the problem s so you understand the concepts a n d m ethods presented a nd the thinking
behind them. Then do the exercises. Ask yourself how new concepts relate to old ones.
Make the connections!
Everyone needs help sometimes. You will find that this program has built-in
o p p o rtu n itie s , b o th in this te x t a n d o n lin e , to g e t h e lp w h e n e v e r y o u n e e d it.
This c o u rs e w ill a ls o h e lp y o u s u c c e e d o n th e tests y o u ta k e in class a n d o n o th e r tests
like th e SAT, A C T , a n d sta te e xa m s. The p ra c tic e e x e rc is e s in e a c h lesson w ill p r e p a r e
you for the form at and content of such tests. N o surprises!
The problem -solving and reasoning habits and problem -solving skills you develop in
this p ro g ra m w ill serve you in all y o u r studies a n d in y o u r d a ily life. They w ill p re p a re
you for future success not only as a student, but also as a member of a changing
technological society.
Best wishes,fy c A -to A / b /u-urifA ir