Essentials of Geometry for College Students

by Margaret L. Lial, L. Murphy Johnson

This applications-oriented text covers all the geometry needed by students planning to take courses in intermediate algebra, college algebra, trigonometry, or calculus. It presumes an understanding of beginning algebra. The presentation is concise and practical; some of the theorem and proof rigor of a traditional geometry course has been replaced by a more intuitive approach that emphasizes applications to future coursework and to everyday life. Essentials of Geometry for College Students features the accessible writing style and thorough pedagogy that have distinguished the many successful texts by the authors. Full-page chapter introductions, with striking photographs, preview applications that are solved later in the chapter. Throughout, detailed examples with step-by-step solutions and second-color annotations ensure comprehension. Definitions, postulates, theorems, and constructions are set off in colored boxes. Practice exercises parallel examples to help students assimilate concepts and techniques. An extensive exercise set follows each section, offering both routine drill problems and more challenging applications and extensions. Historical background, brainteasers, and illustrations to add interest.

431 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Marge Lial (late) was always interested in math; it was her favorite subject in the first grade! Her desire to educate both her students and herself inspired the writing of numerous best-selling textbooks. Marge, who received Bachelor's and Master's degrees from California State University at Sacramento, was most recently affiliated with American River College. An avid reader and traveler, Marge’s travel experiences often find their way into her books as applications, exercise sets, and feature sets. She was particularly interested in archeology. Trips to various digs and ruin sites produced some fascinating problems for her textbooks, involving such topics as the building of Mayan pyramids and the acoustics of ancient ball courts in the Yucatan.

Reviews

[Moeen Sahraei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like every other Margaret Lial’s books, is was so comprehensive, intuitive and highly intelligible. The geometry is the science of existence, it is in fact one of the oldest branches of mathematics which Euclid, Pythagoras, Thales and so many other fertile minds has been working on it since thousands of years ago in order to shed light on primordial principles of the whole world. In other words, geometry is somehow sacred because it reveals so many general truths which are applicable in any part of the world and any science like physics, engineering, architecture etc.
Margaret L Lial introduces some basic but imperative ideas of geometry which are so essential for anyone who wants to gain some primary grasp of this enormous field.