And the Rest is Just Algebra

This book addresses college students' weak foundation in algebra, its causes, and potential solutions to improve their long-term success and understanding in mathematics as a whole. The authors, who are experts in a wide variety of fields, emphasize that these difficulties are more complex than just forgotten rules, and offer strategic approaches from a number of angles that will increase the chances of student understanding. Instructors who are frustrated with their students’ lack of skills and knowledge at college level will find this volume helpful, as the authors confront the deeper reasons why students have difficulties with Algebra and reveal how to remedy the issue.
Middle school, college algebra, calculus, and linear algebra teachers can all benefit from this book. Becoming proficient with algebra is a complex task—much more so than it appears to those who were successful the first time around. Furthermore, according to neuroscience studies, manipulating symbolic expressions requires considerable cognitive effort even for those who are proficient. In addition, ‘met-befores’ in the form of prior arithmetic thinking can thwart algebraic thinking. All this, and more, is considered in a readable way in this book.
Annie Selden