About the Book

About the Author: Allyn Washington was born and educated in Connecticut, where he also began teaching at Trinity College, his alma mater. He taught at Boise Junior College (now Boise State University) before joining the newly forming Dutchess Community College, in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he began writing Basic Technical Mathematics.

At the time, technical mathematics did not have a text that gave students the math they needed to successfully achieve their goals in the technical mathematics program. Al decided to write a book that specifically aligned itself with the technical programs these students were taking. He wanted his text to be flexible, allowing instructors to teach in ways that would most benefit their students. Through his vision and determination, Allyn Washington created the Technical Mathematics series.

Mario F. Triola is a Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Dutchess Community College, where he has taught statistics for over 30 years. Marty is the author of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition, Elementary Statistics Using Excel, Elementary Statistics Using the TI-83 84 Plus Calculator, and he is a co-author of Biostatistics for the Biological and Health Sciences, Statistical Reasoning for Everyday Life, and Business Statistics. He has written several manuals and workbooks for technology supporting statistics education. Outside of the classroom, Marty has been a speaker at many conferences and colleges. His consulting work includes the design of casino slot machines and fishing rods, and he has worked with attorneys in determining probabilities in paternity lawsuits, identifying salary inequities based on gender, analyzing disputed election results, analyzing medical data, and analyzing medical school surveys. Marty has testified as an expert witness in New York State Supreme Court. The Text and Academic Authors Association has awarded Mario F. Triola a "Texty" for Excellence for his work on Elementary Statistics.

Ellena Reda is the Department Head of the Mathematics, Physical and Computer Sciences Department at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, NY. She began her career at DCC in 1988 as an adjunct instructor. Ellena received her Bachelor's degree in Mathematics at Marist College, her Master's degree in Mathematics/Education from the State University of New York at New Paltz, and an advanced graduate certificate in Educational Computing from the University at Stony Brook. She is the program coordinator at DCC for the Verizon Next Step Program, has served as the program's mathematics curriculum leader, and has taught a variety of courses in this technical program.

Ellena is a member of the American Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges. She was a writing team member of the NSF - AMATYC Math Works Project. She was the principal investigator for a National Science Foundation Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics Scholarship (CSEMS) Grant and a team leader/teacher leader for the State Professional Development Collaborative, an NSF/ATE Grant. In spring 2005 she was named a Regional Teacher of the Year by the New York State Technology Education Association. Ellena has co-authored the Excel Manual that accompanies Elementary Statistics, 8th, 9th and 10th editions written by Mario Triola.

In her spare time Ellena enjoys golfing, running, and reading. In 2003 she ran her first marathon to raise money for the American Stroke Association. Since then she has run 2 marathons and 3 half-marathons. She has three grown children and lives locally with her husband.

Table of Contents:
1. Signed Numbers 1.1 Signed Numbers 1.2 Addition and Subtraction of Signed Numbers 1.3 Multiplication and Division of Signed Numbers 1.4 Powers and Roots 1.5 Order of Operation 1.6 Scientific Notation 1.7 Problem-Solving Strategies Summary Review Exercises Test   2. Units of Measurement and Approximate Numbers 2.1 Working with Units of Measure 2.2 Units of Measurement: The Metric System 2.3 Reduction and Conversion of Units 2.4 Approximate Numbers and Significant Digits Summary Review Exercises Test   3. Introduction to Algebra 3.1 Working with Formulas 3.2 Basic Algebraic Expressions 3.3 Addition and Subtraction of Algebraic Expressions 3.4 Multiplication of Algebraic Expressions 3.5 Division of Algebraic Expressions Summary Review Exercises Test   4. Simple Equations and Inequalities 4.1 Solving a Simple Equation 4.2 Simple Formulas and Literal Equations 4.3 Simple Inequalities 4.4 Problem-Solving Strategies and Word Problems 4.5 Ratio, Proportion, and Variation Summary Review Exercises Test   5. Graphs 5.1 Functions and Function Notation 5.2 The Rectangular Coordinate System 5.3 The Graph of a Function 5.4 Graphs of a Linear Function 5.5 Graphs of Other Functions 5.6 Graphical Solutions 5.7 Graphing Inequalities Summary Review Exercises Test   6. Introduction to Geometry 6.1 Basic Geometric Figures 6.2 Perimeter 6.3 Area 6.4 Volume Summary Review Exercises Test   7. Simultaneous Linear Equations 7.1 Graphical Solution of Two Simultaneous Equations 7.2 Substitution Method 7.3 Addition-Subtraction Method for Solving Simultaneous Equations 7.4 Determinants in Two Equations 7.5 Problem Solving Using Systems of Linear Equations Summary Review Exercises Test   8. Factoring 8.1 The Distributive Property and Common Factors 8.2 Factoring Trinomials 8.3 Factoring General Trinomials 8.4 The Difference Between Two Squares 8.5 The Sum and Difference of Cubes Summary Review Exercises Test   9. Algebraic Fractions 9.1 Equivalent Algebraic Fractions 9.2 Multiplication and Division of Algebraic Fractions 9.3 The Lowest Common Denominator 9.4 Addition and Subtraction of Algebraic Fractions 9.5 Solving Fractional Equations Summary Review Exercises Test   10. Exponents, Roots, and Radicals 10.1 Integral Exponents 10.2 Fractional Exponents 10.3 Imaginary Roots 10.4 Simplifying Radicals 10.5 Operations with Radicals 10.6 Working with Radical Equations Summary Review Exercises Test   11. Quadratic Equations 11.1 The Quadratic Equation 11.2 Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring 11.3 Completing the Square 11.4 Solving Quadratic Equations Using the Quadratic Formula 11.5 Graphing the Quadratic Function Summary Review Exercises Test   12. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 12.1 Exponential Functions 12.2 Logarithms 12.3 Properties of Logarithms 12.4 Natural Logarithms 12.5 Exponential and Logarithm Equations 12.6 Log-log and Semi-log Graphs Summary Review Exercises Test   13. Geometry and Right Triangle Trigonometry 13.1 Angles and Their Measure 13.2 Other Geometric Figures 13.3 Right Triangles and the Pythagorean Theorem 13.4 Similar Triangles 13.5 The Trigonometric Ratios 13.6 Values of the Trigonometric Ratios 13.7 Right Triangle Applications Summary Review Exercises Test   14. Oblique Triangles and Vectors 14.1 Trigonometric Functions of Any Angle 14.2 The Law of Sines 14.3 The Law of Cosines 14.4 Introduction to Vectors 14.5 Vector Components 14.6 Vector Addition Summary Review Exercises Test   15. Graphs of Trigonometric Functions 15.1 Radian Measure 15.2 Applications of Radian Measure 15.3 Graphs of y = a sin x and y = a cos x 15.4 Graphs of y = a sin bx and y = a cos bx 15.5 Graphs of y = a sin (bx + c) and y = a cos (bx + c) 15.6 The Sine Function as a Function of Time Summary Review Exercises Test   16. Complex Numbers 16.1 Introduction to Complex Numbers 16.2 Basic Operations with Complex Numbers 16.3 Graphical Representation of Complex Numbers 16.4 Polar Form of Complex Numbers Summary Review Exercises Test   17. Introduction to Data Analysis 17.1 Creating Pie Charts and Bar Graphs 17.2 Frequency Tables and Histograms 17.3 Measures of Central Tendency 17.4 Measures of Spread and Variation 17.5 Probability Summary Review Exercises Test   Appendix Review of Arithmetic A.1 Addition and Subtraction of Whole Numbers A.2 Multiplication and Division of Whole Numbers A.3 Fractions A.4 Equivalent Fractions A.5 Addition and Subtraction of Fractions A.6 Multiplication and Division of Fractions A.7 Decimals A.8 Percent   Answers to Selected Exercises Index