The goal of this book is to motivate users by highlighting real people facing real challenges finding real solutions. This book features real workers at Motorola, along with hundreds of applications and real data sets highlighting the relevance and scope of activities that may be encountered in life. Users are expected to find functions that fit the data and both construct and implement elementary mathematical models.HTML H2PREFACE TO THE INSTRUCTOR/H2 P As professors at an urban public university and a community college, respectively, Michael Sullivan and Michael Sullivan III are aware of the varied needs of College Algebra students, students ranging from those having little mathematical background and fear of mathematics courses to those who have had a strong mathematical education and are highly motivated. For same of your students, this will be their last course in mathematics, while others might decide to further their mathematical education. This text is written for both groups. As the author of precalculus, engineering calculus, finite math, and business calculus texts, and as a teacher, Michael understands what students must know if they are to be focused and successful in upper level math courses. However, as a father of four, including the co-author, he also understands the realities of college life. Michael Sullivan III believes passionately in the value of technology as a tool for learning that enhances understanding without sacrificing important skills. Both authors have taken great pains to insure that the text contains solid, student-friendly examples and problems, as well as a clear, seamless writing style. We encourage you to share with us your experiences teaching from this text. /P H3In the Second Edition/H3 P The second edition builds upon a strong foundation by integrating new features and techniques that further enhance student interest and involvement. The elements of the previous edition that have proved successful remai?Ð