PEARSON EDUCATION Thinking Mathematically

This highly anticipated first edition achieves the difficult balance between coverage and motivation while helping students develop strong problem-solving skills. Blitzer's examples, problems and applications foster both an appreciation and understanding of mathematics encouraging students to take the math a step further into their everyday lives. Blitzer's use of current data and examples drawn from real life are used to develop key mathematical concepts, as well as reduce math anxiety in students. From the Back Cover Thinking Mathematically seeks to turn this familiar statement into a promise of opportunity and exploration. Blitzer's examples provide both a contextual and procedural base that students can easily build upon. Blitzer's examples, problems, and applications foster both an appreciation and understanding of mathematics and encourage students to take the math a step further into their everyday lives. Take a closer look at the front cover to see how mathematics affects our everyday experience. You may have participated in a survey, for example, but do you know how we use mathematics to interpret and present the results? (Chapter 2) Do you know a quick way to estimate the size of a large crowd from a photograph? (Chapter 1) Look at the architecture in the background. The buildings all around us are based on familiar geometric figures such as triangles, squares, and rectangles. (Chapter 10) In some areas, crowds like this are commonplace. However, in order locales, wide-open spaces are the norm. We can describe these differences using the mathematical concept of population density. (Chapter 9) Thinking Mathematically invites you to navigate life and its challenges with greater ease and enthusiasm. About the Author 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 towards a Master of Arts in mathematics from the University of Miami and a doctorate in behavioral sciences from Nova University. Bob is most energized by teaching mathematics and has taught a variety of mathematics courses at Miami-Dade Community 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 for an endowed chair based on excellence in the classroom. In addition to Thinking Mathematically, Bob has written four algebra books, all published by Prentice Hall.