Many multiple-part questions not only ask for numerical answers, but also ask students to make decisions or draw conclusions. Symbolic representation of problem situations occurs in nearly every section of the text. Symbolic representation of real-world situations is introduced in Chapter 1. In Chapter 2 students are taught to translate problem situations into algebra. The text contains numerous problems involving common geometric shapes.
Much emphasis is placed on units and reconciling the units in an answer.
Linear functions are introduced in Section 3.5, after four sections on linear equations in two variables and their graphs. An early introduction to functions in general is found in Section 3.6, with emphasis on verbal rules, formulas, tables, and graphs. Although this topic is not treated extensively in this text, some exercises introduce students to these ideas by asking them to list all possible subsets for a set or to find all possible integral solutions to an inequality. Probability and Statistics Students will analyze data and use probability and statistical models to make inferences about real-world situations. Numerous problems involve real data taken from web sites such as the U.S. Census Bureau.