Elementary, Algebra & Trigonometry 

James Stewart, author of the worldwide, best-selling Calculus texts, along with two of his former Ph.D. students, Lothar Redlin and Saleem Watson, collaborated in writing this text to address a problem they frequently saw in their calculus courses: many students were not prepared to think mathematically but attempted instead to memorize facts and mimic examples. College Algebra was written specifically to help students learn to think mathematically and to develop true problem-solving skills. This comprehensive, evenly paced book highlights the authors' commitment to encouraging conceptual understanding. To implement this goal, Stewart, Redlin, and Watson incorporate technology, the rule of four, real-world applications, and extended projects and writing exercises to enhance a central core of fundamental skills. - from Amzon