Mathematics in Action

Description

About our authors

The Consortium for Foundation Mathematics is a group of mathematics educators, all originally from New York State, who first came together at SUNY Oswego in the summer of 1995 as part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. The members of the group represented 2-year and 4-year colleges, commuter and residential colleges, large urban institutions and small rural institutions, and multi-campus as well as single-campus institutions.

Unified by a desire to change the status quo to further student success, the group’s initial objectives aimed at a new approach to developmental math that included contextual problem-solving, active collaborative learning, and authentic assessment tied more closely to real-world skills. The efforts of this initial grant resulted in new instructional materials that formed the basis of Consortium’s texts, which include range from Prealgebra to Intermediate Algebra, as well as high school titles. As one Consortium author noted, contributing to this series with its different approach “changed my views about math, and about teaching math.” Of the 16 instructors originally involved in the grant, 8 instructors contribute to the latest editions of the text.

NOTE: This loose-leaf, three-hole punched version of the textbook gives you the flexibility to take only what you need to class and add your own notes – all at an affordable price. For loose-leaf editions that include MyLabTM or MasteringTM, several versions may exist for each title and registrations are not transferable. You may need a Course ID, provided by your instructor, to register for and use MyLab or Mastering products.

For courses in Introductory Algebra.

Active learning for active minds

The authors of the Mathematics in Action series believe that students learn mathematics best by actually doing the math within a realistic context. If a student is taking this course, why teach them the same content in the same way that they’ve already seen—yet did not retain? Following this principle, the authors provide a series of guided-discovery activities that help students to construct, reflect upon, and apply mathematical concepts, deepening their conceptual understanding as they do so. The active style of learning develops critical-thinking skills and mathematical literacy, while keeping the concepts in the context of real applications.

The 6th Edition includes updated examples and activities for maximum interest and relevance, along with new and enhanced digital resources in MyLabTM Math to support conceptual understanding for students, wherever and whenever they need it.

Also available with MyLab Math

By combining trusted author content with digital tools and a flexible platform, MyLab personalizes the learning experience and improves results for each student.

Note: You are purchasing a standalone product; MyLab Math does not come packaged with this content. Students, if interested in purchasing this title with MyLab Math, ask your instructor to confirm the correct package ISBN and Course ID. Instructors, contact your Pearson representative for more information.

If you would like to purchase both the physical text and MyLab Math, search for:

013528158X / 9780135281581 Mathematics in Action: An Introduction to Algebraic, Graphical, and Numerical Problem Solving, Loose-Leaf Version Plus MyLab Math with Pearson eText – Access Card Package

Package consists of:

• 0135163412 / 9780135163412 Mathematics in Action: An Introduction to Algebraic, Graphical, and Numerical Problem Solving, Loose-Leaf Edition
• 013516818X / 9780135168189 MyLab Math with Pearson eText – Standalone Access Card – for Mathematics in Action: An Introduction to Algebraic, Graphical, and Numerical Problem Solving

NOTE: This loose-leaf, three-hole punched version of the textbook gives students the flexibility to take only what they need to class and add their own notes – all at an affordable price.

For courses in Introductory Algebra.

 

Active learning for active minds

The authors of the Mathematics in Action series believe that students learn mathematics best by actually doing the math within a realistic context. If a student is taking this course, why teach them the same content in the same way that they’ve already seen – yet did not retain? Following this principle, the authors provide a series of guided-discovery activities that help students to construct, reflect upon, and apply mathematical concepts, deepening their conceptual understanding as they do so. The active style of learning develops critical-thinking skills and mathematical literacy, while keeping the concepts in the context of real applications. 

 

The 6th Edition includes updated examples and activities for maximum interest and relevance, along with new and enhanced digital resources in MyLab™ Math to support conceptual understanding for students, wherever and whenever they need it. 

Also available with MyLab Math 

MyLab Math is the teaching and learning platform that empowers you to reach every student. By combining trusted author content with digital tools and a flexible platform, MyLab Math personalizes the learning experience and improves results for each student. Learn more about MyLab Math. 

New and updated features of this title

• All data-based activities and exercises have been updated to reflect the most recent information and/or replaced with more relevant topics. New real-world exercises have been added throughout. 
• More robust, up-to-date situations replace the introductory scenarios in several activities.
• To help instructors prep more easily for their course, all Activity headers now include the mathematical topic that will be learned in that section. 
• Carefully reviewed and revised exposition and topic treatment, where necessary, provides students with a clearer and easier-to-understand presentation.

Below is an Activity-level Table of Contents for this title.

• Chapter 1. Number Sense
  • Cluster 1: Introduction to Problem Solving
    • Activity 1.1 The Bookstore: Steps in Problem Solving
    • Activity 1.2 The Classroom: Problem-Solving Strategies
    • Activity 1.3 Properties of Arithmetic: Properties and Vocabulary for Arithmetic Calculations
    • What Have I Learned?
    • How Can I Practice?
  • Cluster 2: Problem Solving with Fractions and Decimals (Rational Numbers)
    • Activity 1.4 Top Chef: Operations with Fractions and Mixed Numbers
    • Project Activity 1.5 Course Grades and Your GPA: Problem Solving Using Fractions and Decimals
    • What Have I Learned?
    • How Can I Practice?
  • Cluster 3: Comparisons and Proportional Reasoning
    • Activity 1.6 Everything Is Relative: Ratios as Fractions, Decimals, and Percents
    • Activity 1.7 Antidepressant Use: Proportional Reasoning
    • Activity 1.8 Who Really Did Better? Actual and Relative Change, Percent Increase and Decrease
    • Activity 1.9 Going Shopping: Growth and Decay Factors
    • Activity 1.10 Take an Additional 20% Off: Consecutive Growth and Decay Factors
    • Activity 1.11 Fuel Economy: Rates and Unit Analysis
    • What Have I Learned?
    • How Can I Practice?
  • Cluster 4: Problem Solving with Signed Numbers
    • Activity 1.12 Celsius Thermometers: Addition and Subtraction of Integers
    • Activity 1.13 Shedding the Extra Pounds: Multiplication and Division of Integers
    • Activity 1.14 Order of Operations Revisited: Negative Exponents and Scientific Notation
    • What Have I Learned?
    • How Can I Practice?
    • Chapter 1 Summary
    • Chapter 1 Gateway Review
• Chapter 2. Variable Sense
  • Cluster 1: Symbolic Rules and Expressions
    • Activity 2.1 Symbolizing Arithmetic: Formulas and Algebraic Expressions
    • Activity 2.2 Blood Alcohol Levels: Represent a Two-Variable Relationship Algebraically, Numerically, and Graphically
    • Activity 2.3 College Expenses: Symbolic Rules
    • Activity 2.4 Are They the Same? Equivalent Expressions and Grouping Symbols
    • What Have I Learned?
    • How Can I Practice?
  • Cluster 2: Solving Equations
    • Activity 2.5 Let’s Go Shopping: Solve an Equation Containing One Operation
    • Activity 2.6 Leasing a Copier: Solve an Equation Containing Two or More Operations
    • Activity 2.7 The Algebra of Weather: Solve a Formula for a Specified Variable
    • Activity 2.8 Four out of Five Dentists Prefer Crest: Proportions
    • What Have I Learned?
    • How Can I Practice?
  • Cluster 3: More Problem Solving Using Algebra
    • Activity 2.9 Do It Two Ways: Distributive Property, Greatest Common Factor, and Combining Like Terms
    • Activity 2.10 Decoding: Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
    • Activity 2.11 Comparing Energy Costs: Mathematical Models, General Strategy for Solving Linear Equations
    • Project Activity 2.12 Summer Job Opportunities: Problem Solving Using Linear Equations
    • What Have I Learned?
    • How Can I Practice?
    • Chapter 2 Summary
    • Chapter 2 Gateway Review
• Chapter 3. Function Sense and Linear Functions
  • Cluster 1: Function Sense
    • Activity 3.1 Summer Olympics: Functions, Numerical and Graphical Representation of Functions
    • Activity 3.2 How Fast Did You Lose? Average Rate of Change
    • Project Activity 3.3 Comparing Symbolically Defined Functions and Their Graphs
    • Activity 3.4 Course Grade: Representing Functions Symbolically
    • What Have I Learned?
    • How Can I Practice?
  • Cluster 2: Introduction to Linear Functions
    • Activity 3.5 The Snowy Tree Cricket: Slope and Intercepts of a Line
    • Activity 3.6 Software Sales: Slope-Intercept Equation of a Line
    • Activity 3.7 Predicting Population: Problem Solving Using Slope-Intercept Equation of a Line
    • Activity 3.8 College Tuition: Point-Slope Equation of a Line
    • What Have I Learned?
    • How Can I Practice?
  • Cluster 3: Linear Regression, System, and Inequalities
    • Activity 3.9 Education Pays: Line of Best Fit and Regression Lines
    • Lab Activity 3.10 Body Parts: Problem Solving Using Regression Equations
    • Activity 3.11 Smartphone Plan Options: Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables
    • Activity 3.12 Healthy Lifestyle: Solving a System of Linear Equations in Two Variables Using the Addition Method
    • Project Activity 3.13 Modeling a Business: Problem Solving Using Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables
    • Activity 3.14 How Long Can You Live? Linear Inequalities
    • What Have I Learned?
    • How Can I Practice?
    • Chapter 3 Summary
    • Chapter 3 Gateway Review
• Chapter 4. An Introduction to Nonlinear Problem Solving
  • Cluster 1: Mathematical Modeling Involving Polynomials
    • Activity 4.1 Fatal Crashes: Polynomials
    • Activity 4.2 Volume of a Storage Box: Properties of Exponents
    • Activity 4.3 Room for Work: Operations with Polynomials
    • What Have I Learned?
    • How Can I Practice?
  • Cluster 2: Problem Solving with Quadratic Equations and Functions
    • Activity 4.4 The Amazing Property of Gravity: Solving Quadratic Equations
    • Activity 4.5 What Goes Up, Comes Down: Quadratic Functions and Their Graphs
    • Activity 4.6 How High Did It Go? Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring
    • Activity 4.7 More Ups and Downs: Solving Quadratic Equations Using the Quadratic Formula
    • What Have I Learned?
    • How Can I Practice?
  • Cluster 3: Other Nonlinear Functions
    • Activity 4.8 Inflation: Exponential Functions
    • Activity 4.9 A Thunderstorm: Direct Variation
    • Activity 4.10 Diving under Pressure, or Don‘t Hold Your Breath: Inverse Variation
    • Activity 4.11 Hang Time: Square Root Functions
    • What Have I Learned?
    • How Can I Practice?
    • Chapter 4 Summary
    • Chapter 4 Gateway Review

Appendices

• A. Fractions
• B. Decimals
• C. Skills Checks
• D. Algebraic Extensions
• E. Getting Started with the TI-84 Plus Family of Calculators

Hallmark features of this title

• Thematic clusters in each chapter contain activities that cover specific concepts and skills. The variety of activities in each cluster allows instructors to customize content for their class needs.
• Additional Project Activities ask students to take a deeper dive into a topic. 
• Summary Boxes of main concepts at the end of each activity help students recognize and connect critical topics and concepts.
• Abundant review exercises throughout:
  • Skills Check exercises address basic skills. What Have I Learned? problems require students to pull together topics.
  • How Can I Practice? exercises are an key self-assessment tool. Gateway Review exercises help students assess their understanding and synthesize chapter concepts with previously covered material.