INTRODUCTION 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 2
Icons Used in This Book 3
Beyond the Book 3
Where to Go from Here 4

PART 1: GETTING DOWN TO THE NITTY-GRITTY ON BASIC OPERATIONS 5
CHAPTER 1: Deciphering Signs in Numbers 7
CHAPTER 2: Incorporating Algebraic Properties 17
CHAPTER 3: Making Fractions and Decimals Behave 25
CHAPTER 4: Exploring Exponents 45
CHAPTER 5: Taming Rampaging Radicals 55
CHAPTER 6: Simplifying Algebraic Expressions 67

PART 2: CHANGING THE FORMAT OF EXPRESSIONS 77
CHAPTER 7: Specializing in Multiplication Matters 79
CHAPTER 8: Dividing the Long Way to Simplify Algebraic Expressions 91
CHAPTER 9: Figuring on Factoring 103
CHAPTER 10: Taking the Bite Out of Binomial Factoring 111
CHAPTER 11: Factoring Trinomials and Special Polynomials 117

PART 3: SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND . . . SOLUTIONS 133
CHAPTER 12: Lining Up Linear Equations 135
CHAPTER 13: Muscling Up to Quadratic Equations 153
CHAPTER 14: Yielding to Higher Powers 169
CHAPTER 15: Reeling in Radical and Absolute Value Equations 181
CHAPTER 16: Getting Even with Inequalities 191

PART 4: SOLVING STORY PROBLEMS AND SKETCHING GRAPHS 207
CHAPTER 17: Facing Up to Formulas 209
CHAPTER 18: Making Formulas Work in Basic Story Problems 225
CHAPTER 19: Relating Values in Story Problems 239
CHAPTER 20: Measuring Up with Quality and Quantity Story Problems 249
CHAPTER 21: Getting a Handle on Graphing 261

PART 5: THE PART OF TENS 289
CHAPTER 22: Ten Common Errors That Get Noticed 291
CHAPTER 23: Ten Quick Tips to Make Algebra a Breeze 297

INDEX 303