This allows us to emphasize the connections between mathematical ideas as we further the student's knowledge about a particular type of function. Building the study of functions throughout the book, rather than isolating the study of a single type of function to one or two chapters, leads to a natural review of the properties of various functions throughout the text. This organization also addresses a common student misconception that mathematics consists of unrelated bits of information which can be forgotten once a particular topic is finished. Another common student misconception is that mathematics is useless and dry. To address this, we have made the study of applications an integral part of our text.
Applications also occur in homework exercises, investigations, and projects.
Every application has been researched and care has been taken to insure that the data given is accurate. Our underlying premise is that students learn best when they are engaged with the material. We have designed this text so that students will read, write, discuss, and explore mathematical concepts. It is written in a conversational format with reading questions interspersed throughout each section. Each homework set includes investigations where students are asked to extend and apply the material presented in that section.