;Advance Praise for Head First Algebra;Authors of Algebra;How to use this Book: Intro; Who is this book for?; We know what you''re thinking; We know what your brain is thinking; Metacognition: thinking about thinking; Here''s what WE did; Read Me; The technical review team; Acknowledgments; Safari® Books Online;Chapter 1: What is Algebra?: Solving for unknowns.; 1.1 It all started with a big gaming sale; 1.2 What does a system really cost?; 1.3 Algebra is about solving for unknowns; 1.4 Jo''s got more unknowns; 1.5 X marks the spot unknown; 1.6 Equations are math sentences; 1.

7 Now SOLVE for the unknown; 1.8 So which operation do you use when?; 1.9 Jo is ready to accessorize!; 1.10 Equation training; 1.11 Jo has an awesome setup!; 1.12 Math Toolbox;Chapter 2: (More) Complicated Equations: Taking Algebra on the road; 2.1 Paul loves "Pajama Death"; 2.2 Always start with what you know; 2.

3 There''s a COST for each guy; 2.4 Replace your words with numbers; 2.5 Now solve for g. one step at a time; 2.6 . but you have to keep the equation equal!; 2.7 If you follow the rules, you''ll ALWAYS get the right answer; 2.8 Whole numbers are usually easier to work with; 2.

9 A variable can appear in an equation MORE THAN ONE TIME; 2.10 Checking your work proves your answer; 2.11 What''s a road trip without some girls?; 2.12 We need another variable; 2.13 A term is a chunk of an algebraic equation; 2.14 Tools for your Algebra Toolbox;Chapter 3: Rules for Numeric Operations: Follow the rules; 3.1 Math or No Math; 3.2 There''s an order for working expressions; 3.

3 You can re-group your equations; 3.4 It''s an important round.; 3.5 Distributing a value over a grouping doesn''t change a problem''s value; 3.6 A constant stands in for a number; 3.7 Roll the credits.; 3.8 Tools for your Algebra Toolbox;Chapter 4: Exponent Operations: Podcasts that spread like the plague (that''s a good thing.

); 4.1 Addie''s got a podcast; 4.2 Let''s mobilize Addie''s listeners; 4.3 Can Addie and Alex get enough hits?; 4.4 Alex is flaking out on his sister; 4.5 There''s always a villain.; 4.6 The order of operations says exponents FIRST; 4.

7 A root is the INVERSE of an exponent; 4.8 Tools for your Algebra Toolbox;Chapter 5: Graphing: A picture''s worth 1,000 words; 5.1 Edward''s Lawn Mowing needs help.; 5.2 Why don''t you just SHOW me the money?; 5.3 Now we can LOOK at Ed''s cash pattern; 5.4 Graphs show an ENTIRE relationship; 5.5 Let''s graph Ed''s equation on the Cartesian Plane; 5.

6 Ed''s figuring out the SLOPE of lawns; 5.7 Linear equations in point-slope form; 5.8 How does a point and a slope get you a line?; 5.9 Let''s use the point-slope form; 5.10 Equations also have a standard form; 5.11 The slope-intercept form is EASY to graph; 5.12 Tools for your Algebra Toolbox;Chapter 6: Inequalities: Can''t quite get enough?; 6.1 Kathleen really loves football; 6.

2 The cost of all players can''t be more than $1,000,000; 6.3 Inequalities are COMPARISONS; 6.4 Inequalities involving some negative number operations need special treatment; 6.5 Negative inequalities work BACKWARD; 6.6 FLIP the inequality sign with negative multiplication and division; 6.7 When you''re working with an inequality and negative multiplication or division.; 6.8 You can visualize a solution set on a number line; 6.

9 Inequalities can have TWO variables; 6.10 Use a graph to visualize the solutions to an inequality; 6.11 Answers made in the shade; 6.12 Are you ready for some football?; 6.13 Tools for your Algebra Toolbox;Chapter 7: Systems of Equations: Know what you don''t know; 7.1 A line means infinite solutions; 7.2 You can''t have -1 gallons of liquid!; 7.3 How does the sparkling equation work?; 7.

4 The INTERSECTION of the lines solves BOTH linear equations; 7.5 Solve multiple unknowns with a SYSTEM of EQUATIONS; 7.6 Two kinds of glasses. that''s TWO unknowns; 7.7 Let''s solve the glasses problem; 7.8 You can substitute substitution for graphing; 7.9 f is gone with almost no work; 7.10 Manipulate your equations for elimination; 7.

11 Zach''s party rocks!; 7.12 Sometimes two equations aren''t two lines; 7.13 Tools for your Algebra Toolbox;Chapter 8: Expanding Binomials & Factoring: Breaking up is hard to do; 8.1 Math or No Math semi-regional masters final; 8.2 Who''s right?; 8.3 Binomials are groups of two algebraic terms; 8.4 The distributive property, revisited; 8.5 Simplify binomials with the distributive property; 8.

6 What about when the signs are the SAME?; 8.7 Sometimes there''s just not a pattern.; 8.8 FOIL ALWAYS works; 8.9 Un-distribution is called FACTORING; 8.10 Factoring is un-mulitplying; 8.11 Factor by looking for common terms; 8.12 Zero times anything is 0; 8.

13 Tools for your Algebra Toolbox;Chapter 9: Quadratic Equations: Getting out of line; 9.1 Head First U is at war!; 9.2 Jon''s upgrading his technology; 9.3 Where does Jon put the catapult?; 9.4 You should always factor with a PLAN; 9.5 Pi Gamma Delta built a wall!; 9.6 9 feet is not a problem; 9.7 The quadratic formula; 9.

8 Frat Wars, part deux; 9.9 How can you graph x2?; 9.10 A parabola is the shape of a quadratic equation; 9.11 Graphing a parabola depends upon the vertex; 9.12 Work with the parabola, the SMART way; 9.13 The discriminant can help with our graph, too; 9.14 Tools for your Algebra Toolbox;Chapter 10: Functions: Everyone has limits; 10.1 Pajama Death TV; 10.

2 Equations have limits (most of the time); 10.3 The input limits are the domain of the function; 10.4 Functions have minimum and maximum outputs; 10.5 Algebra is really about relations; 10.6 Relations, equations, and functions all go TOGETHER; 10.7 Function graphs have LIMITS; 10.8 Just before the second episode of Pajama Death TV.; 10.

9 Graphing reveals the nature of a relation; 10.10 Functions pass the vertical line test; 10.11 But. what about the REST of the tickets?; 10.12 Use the function piece you NEED; 10.13 The numbers are in. and?; 10.14 Pajama Death''s show was a hit!; 10.

15 Tools for your Algebra Toolbox;Chapter 11: Real-World Algebra: Solve the world''s problems; 11.1 Calculate interest from your interest rate and the principle amount you''re borrowing; 11.2 Max doesn''t own that car just yet.; 11.3 You don''t need to GUESS with Algebra; 11.4 Max plans to pay you to be his financial planner;Leftovers: The Top Five Things (we didn''t cover); #1 Negative Exponents; Working with negative exponents; #2 Table of values for graphing; #3 Absolute value equations; #4 Calculators; #5 More practice, especially for factoring;Pre-Algebra Review: Build on a solid foundation; Algebra starts with numbers; How do you work with negative numbers?; Addition and subtraction of integers; Multiplication and division of integers; Absolute Value; What absolute value means; Number sets - all together; The number sets; Three ways to split things up; Decimal''s Anatomy; Addition and subtraction with decimals; Decimal multiplication; Decimal division; Decimal division training; Special decimals; You''re 100% right!; Working with percents; Fractions; Fraction multiplication; Improper fractions; More about improper fractions; Invert a fraction to get its reciprocal; Adding and subtracting fractions; Equivalent fractions get you matching denominators; Use the lowest common denominator for addition; Fraction addition and subtraction training; Dividing by one doesn''t change the value; Reduce fractions by dividing by 1; Factor trees can eliminate lots of little steps; Reduce fractions with the factor tree; Putting it all together - fractions; Converting decimals to fractions; Division by Zero doesn''t work; Sometimes multiplication takes forever!; How quickly things spread.; Why does all this matter?;.