The quickest route to learning a subject is through a solid grounding in the basics. So what you won't find in Easy Algebra Step-by-Step is a lot of endless drills. Instead, you get a clear explanation that breaks down complex concepts into easy-to-understand steps, followed by highly focused exercises that are linked to core skills--enabling learners to grasp when and how to apply those techniques. This book features: Large step-by-step charts breaking down each step within a process and showing clear connections between topics and annotations to clarify difficulties -- Stay-in-step panels show how to cope with variations to the core steps -- Step-it-up exercises link practice to the core steps already presented -- Missteps and stumbles highlight common errors to avoid. You can master algebra as long as you take it Step-by-Step!

Includes index.

1. Numbers of algebra -- Natural numbers, whole numbers, and integers -- Rational, irrational, and real numbers -- Properties of the real numbers -- 2. Computation with real numbers -- Comparing numbers and absolute value -- Addition and subtraction of signed numbers -- Multiplication and division of signed numbers -- 3. Roots and radicals -- Squares, square roots , and perfect squares -- Cube roots and nth roots -- Simplifying radicals -- 4. Exponentiation -- Exponents -- Natural number exponents -- Zero and negative integer exponents -- Unit fraction and rational exponents -- 5. Order of operations -- Grouping symbols -- PEMDAS -- 6. Algebraic expressions -- Algebraic terminology -- Evaluating algebraic expressions -- Dealing with parentheses -- 7. Rules for exponents -- Product rule -- Quotient rule -- Rules for powers -- Rules for exponents summary -- 8. Adding and subtracting Polynomials -- Terms and monomials -- Polynomials -- Like terms -- Addition and subtraction of monomials -- Combining like terms -- Addition and subtraction of polynomials -- 9. Multiplying polynomials -- Multiplying monomials -- Multiplying polynomials by monomials -- Multiplying binomials -- The FOIL method -- Multiplying polynomials -- Special products -- 10. Simplifying polynomial expressions -- Identifying polynomials -- Simplifying polynomials -- 11. Dividing polynomials -- Dividing a polynomial by a monomial -- Dividing a polynomial by a polynomial -- 12. Factoring polynomials -- Factoring and its objectives -- Greatest common factor -- GCF with a negative coefficient -- A quantity as a common factor -- Factoring four terms -- Factoring quadratic trinomials -- Perfect trinomial squares -- Factoring two terms -- Guidelines for factoring -- 13. Rational expressions -- Reducing algebraic fractions to lowest terms -- Multiplying algebraic fractions -- Dividing algebraic fractions -- Adding (or subtracting) algebraic fractions, like denominators -- Adding (or subtracting) algebraic fractions, unlike denominators -- Complex fractions -- 14. Solving linear equations and inequalities -- Solving one-variable linear equations -- Solving two-variable linear equations for a specific variable -- Solving linear inequalities -- 15. Solving quadratic equations -- Solving quadratic equations of the form ax p2 s + c = 0 -- Solving quadratic equations by factoring -- Solving quadratic equations by completing the square -- Solving quadratic equations by using the quadratic formula -- 16. The Cartesian coordinate plane -- Definitions for the plane -- Ordered pairs in the plane -- Quadrants of the plane -- Finding the distance between two points in the plane -- Finding the midpoint between two points in the plane -- Finding the slope of a line through two points in the plane -- Slopes of parallel and perpendicular lines -- 17. Graphing linear equations -- Properties of a line -- Graphing a linear equation that is in standard form -- Graphing a linear equation that is in slope-y-intercept form -- 18. The equation of a line -- Determining the equation of a line given the slope and y-intercept -- Determining the equation of a line given the slope and one point on the line -- Determining the equation of a line given two distinct points on the line -- 19. Basic function concepts -- Representations of a function -- Terminology of functions -- Some common functions -- 20. Systems of equations -- Solutions to a system of equations -- Solving a system of equations by substitution -- Solving a system of equations by elimination -- Solving a system of equations by graphing.