Gain a strong foundation in the principles of mathematical thinking as you prepare for success in future calculus studies with PRECALCULUS: MATHEMATICS FOR CALCULUS, 8th Edition by the best-selling author team Stewart/Redlin/Watson. This latest edition offers updates within a clear, simple writing style that overcomes typical barriers to understanding. Comprehensive and evenly paced, this edition introduces both problem solving and mathematical modeling early and emphasizes these principles throughout with helpful practice and revised learning features. This edition provides complete coverage of the function concept and integrates the use of graphing technology to help you develop insights that help you better understand today's mathematical ideas. New review helps you further master the fundamentals. Online WebAssign resources are also available to provide interactive practice and assist you in reviewing key principles in preparation for calculus.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Fundamentals

Chapter 2: Functions

Chapter 3: Polynomial and Rational Functions

Chapter 4: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Chapter 5: Trigonometric Functions: Unit Circle Approach

Chapter 6: Trigonometric Functions: Right Triangle Approach

Chapter 7: Analytic Trigonometry

Chapter 8: Polar Coordinates, Parametric Equations, and Vectors

Chapter 9: Systems of Equations and Inequalities

Chapter 10: Conic Sections

Chapter 11: Sequences and Series

Chapter 12: Limits: A Preview of Calculus

Appendix A: Geometry Review

APPENDIX B: Calculations and Significant Figures (Website)

APPENDIX C: Graphing with a Graphing Calculator (Website)

APPENDIX D: Using the Tl-83/84 Graphing Calculator (Website)

APPENDIX E: Three-Dimensional Coordinate Geometry (Website)

APPENDIX F: Mathematics of Finance (Website)

APPENDIX G: Probability and Statistics (Website)

About the Authors

The late James Stewart received his M.S. from Stanford University and his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. He did research at the University of London and was influenced by the famous mathematician George Polya at Stanford University. Stewart was most recently Professor of Mathematics at McMaster University, and his research field was harmonic analysis. Stewart was the author of a best-selling calculus textbook series published by Cengage Learning, including CALCULUS, CALCULUS: EARLY TRANSCENDENTALS, and CALCULUS: CONCEPTS AND CONTEXTS, as well as a series of precalculus texts.

The late Lothar Redlin grew up on Vancouver Island, received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Victoria, and a Ph.D. from McMaster University in 1978. He subsequently did research and taught at the University of Washington, the University of Waterloo, and California State University, Long Beach. He was most recently Professor of Mathematics at The Pennsylvania State University, Abington Campus. His research field was topology.

Saleem Watson received his Bachelor of Science degree from Andrews University in Michigan. He did graduate studies at Dalhousie University and McMaster University, where he received his Ph.D. in 1978. He subsequently did research at the Mathematics Institute of the University of Warsaw in Poland. He also taught at The Pennsylvania State University. He is currently Professor of Mathematics at California State University, Long Beach. His research field is functional analysis. Watson is a co-author on Stewart's best-selling Calculus franchise.