Precalculus - Tapa dura

Gets Them Engaged. Keeps Them Engaged. Blitzer's philosophy: present the full scope of mathematics, while always (1) engaging the student by opening their minds to learning (2) keeping the student engaged on every page (3) explaining ideas directly, simply, and clearly so they don't get "lost" when studying and reviewing. First, he gets students engaged in the study of mathematics by highlighting truly relevant, unique, and engaging applications. He explores math the way it evolved: by describing real problems and how math explains them. In doing so, it answers the question "When will I ever use this?" Then, Blitzer keeps students engaged by ensuring they don't get lost when studying. Examples are easy to follow because of a three-step learning system - "See it, Hear it, Try it" embedded into each and every one. He literally "walks" the student through each example by his liberal use of annotations - the instructor's "voice" that appears throughout.

Bob Blitzer is a native of Manhattan and received a Bachelor of Arts degree with dual majors in mathematics and psychology (minor: English literature) from the City College of New York. His unusual combination of academic interests led him toward a Master of Arts in mathematics from the University of Miami and a doctorate in behavioral sciences fro Nova University. Bob is most energized by teaching mathematics and has taught a variety of mathematics courses at Miami-Dade College for nearly 30 years. He has received numerous teaching awards, including Innovator of the Year from the League for Innovations in the Community College, and was among the first group of recipients at Miami-Dade College for an endowed chair based on excellence in the classroom. Bob has written Intermediate Algebra for College Students, Introductory Algebra for College Students, Essentials of Intermediate Algebra for College Students, Introductory and Intermediate Algebra for College Students, Essentials of Introductory and Intermediate Algebra for College Students, Algebra for College Students, Thinking Mathematically, College Algebra, Algebra and Trigonometry, and Precalculus, all published by Prentice Hall.