Algebra for College Students, Fourth Edition effectively prepares students for their next mathematics course as it presents all the topics associated with a first course in algebra and provides students with the basic skills theyll need in order to succeed in the next course. The structure of each section, the structure of the book, and the various pedagogical features all help students master the text. Within each section, careful explanation of concepts and processes begins with material the student already knows, then new material is introduced and, in a step-by-step fashion, the new material builds in complexity with each successive example. As the book progresses, the mathematical language matures, examples grow less structured, and exercises grow more varied, all on the assumption that the student is growing in both mathematical sophistication and ability. The books mathematical concepts are motivated by need and explained through discussion and example; applications are abundant. Beginning with the first chapter and continuing throughout the text, students must apply newly acquired skills to solve word problems. Each exercise set is followed by a group of review problems.