Precalculus: Functions & Graphs

by Bernard Kolman, Arnold Shapiro

Functions & Graphs provides a complete and self-contained presentation of the basic mathematical techniques and ideas required for the successful completion of a calculus course. The book emphasizes the learning and understanding of the concept of a function, using function notation, and being able to sketch graphs of functions with ease. The text employs a number of pedagogic devices that have been proven effective in teaching college mathematics. The mathematical concepts are presented in a style that is informal, supportive, and "user-friendly". Progress checks, warnings, and features are inserted. Every chapter contains a summary, including terms and symbols with appr This textbook is intended for college students.

620 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 10, 2014

About the author

Bernard Kolman received his B.S. (summa cum laude with honors in mathematics and physics) from Brooklyn College in 1954, his Sc.M. from Brown University in 1956, and his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1965, all in mathematics. During the summers of 1955 and 1956, he worked as a mathematician for the U.S. Navy, and IBM, respectively, in areas of numerical analysis and simulation. From 1957-1964, he was employed by the UNIVAC Division of Sperry Rand Corporation, working in the areas of operations research, numerical analysis, and discrete mathematics. He has also had extensive experience as a consultant to industry in operations research. From 1964-1998, he was a member of the Mathematics Department at Drexel University, where he also served as Acting Head of this department. Since 1964, his research activities have been in the areas of Lie algebras and operations research.

Professor Kolman is the author of numerous papers, primarily in Lie algebras, and has organized several conferences in this area. He is also well known as the author of many mathematics textbooks that are used worldwide and have been translated into other languages.