Intermediate Algebra 3rd edition

Textbook Cover

Alan S. Tussy and R. David Gustafson
Publisher: Cengage Learning

enhanced content

Cengage Unlimited

Included in a Cengage Unlimited subscription. Learn More

lifetime of edition

Lifetime of Edition (LOE)

Your students are allowed unlimited access to WebAssign courses that use this edition of the textbook at no additional cost.


Access is contingent on use of this textbook in the instructor's classroom.

  • Chapter 1: A Review of Basic Algebra
    • 1.1 The Language of Algebra (20)
    • 1.2 The Real Number System (23)
    • 1.3 Operations with Real Numbers (23)
    • 1.4 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions (23)
    • 1.5 Solving Linear Equations and Formulas (24)
    • 1.6 Using Equations to Solve Problems (24)
    • 1.7 More Problem Solving (21)
    • Review (20)
    • Test (19)

  • Chapter 2: Graphs, Equations, of Lines, and Functions
    • 2.1 The Rectangular Coordinate System (21)
    • 2.2 Graphing Linear Equations (15)
    • 2.3 Rate of Change and the Slope of a Line (23)
    • 2.4 Writing Equations of Lines (24)
    • 2.5 Introduction to Functions (19)
    • 2.6 Graphs of Functions (23)
    • Chapter Review (17)
    • Review (14)
    • Test (19)

  • Chapter 3: Systems of Equations
    • 3.1 Solving Systems by Graphing (23)
    • 3.2 Solving Systems Algebraically (23)
    • 3.3 Systems of Three Equations (24)
    • 3.4 Solving Systems Using Matrices (23)
    • 3.5 Solving Systems Using Determinants (24)
    • Chapter Review (19)
    • Review (19)
    • Test (17)

  • Chapter 4: Inequalities
    • 4.1 Solving Linear Inequalities (22)
    • 4.2 Solving Compound Inequalities (21)
    • 4.3 Solving Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities (20)
    • 4.4 Linear Inequalities in Two Variables (24)
    • 4.5 Systems of Linear Inequalities (24)
    • Chapter Review (19)
    • Review (18)
    • Test (15)

  • Chapter 5: Exponents, Polynomials, and Polynomial Functions
    • 5.1 Exponents (21)
    • 5.2 Scientific Notation (23)
    • 5.3 Polynomials and Polynomial Functions (20)
    • 5.4 Multiplying Polynomials (22)
    • 5.5 The Greatest Common Factor and Factoring by Grouping (21)
    • 5.6 The Difference of Two Squares; the Sum and Difference of Two Cubes (18)
    • 5.7 Factoring Trinomials (20)
    • 5.8 Summary of Factoring Techniques (19)
    • 5.9 Solving Equations by Factoring (19)
    • Chapter Review (15)
    • Review (15)
    • Test (14)

  • Chapter 6: Rational Expressions, Equations, and Functions
    • 6.1 Rational Functions and Simplifying Rational Expressions (24)
    • 6.2 Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions (26)
    • 6.3 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions (24)
    • 6.4 Complex Fractions (23)
    • 6.5 Equations Containing Rational Expressions (25)
    • 6.6 Dividing Polynomials (26)
    • 6.7 Proportion and Variation (19)
    • Chapter Review (20)
    • Review (20)
    • Test (20)

  • Chapter 7: Radical Expressions, Equations, and Functions
    • 7.1 Radical Expressions and Radical Functions (25)
    • 7.2 Simplifying and Combining Radical Expressions (32)
    • 7.3 Multiplying and Dividing Radical Expressions (20)
    • 7.4 Radical Equations (24)
    • 7.5 Rational Exponents (24)
    • 7.6 Geometric Applications of Radicals (33)
    • Review (20)
    • Test (20)

  • Chapter 8: Quadratic Equations, Functions, and Inequalities
    • 8.1 Completing the Square (23)
    • 8.2 The Quadratic Formula (28)
    • 8.3 Quadratic Functions and Their Graphs (21)
    • 8.4 Complex Numbers (21)
    • 8.5 The Discriminant and Equations That Can Be Written In Quadratic Form (23)
    • 8.6 Quadratic and Other Nonlinear Inequalities (20)
    • Chapter Review (20)
    • Review (20)
    • Test (20)

  • Chapter 9: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
    • 9.1 Algebra and Composition of Functions (23)
    • 9.2 Inverses of Functions (24)
    • 9.3 Exponential Functions (27)
    • 9.4 Base-e Exponential Functions (27)
    • 9.5 Logarithmic Functions (26)
    • 9.6 Base-e Logarithms (25)
    • 9.7 Properties of Logarithms (31)
    • 9.8 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations (27)
    • Review (19)
    • Test (19)

  • Chapter 10: Conic Sections; More Graphing
    • 10.1 The Circle and the Parabola (23)
    • 10.2 The Ellipse (21)
    • 10.3 The Hyperbola (20)
    • 10.4 Solving Simultaneous Second-Degree Equations (23)
    • Chapter Review (20)
    • Review (19)
    • Test (18)

Enhanced WebAssign from Brooks/Cole

The content for this textbook is part of the Enhanced WebAssign series from Brooks/Cole. An Enhanced WebAssign access card is required for this book. This special access card can be packaged with a new textbook. Students have access to these materials for as long as they are enrolled in a WebAssign course using this textbook. The access card can also be purchased online or at the bookstore by students who need access.

Please discuss how to order your textbook packaged with WebAssign with your Cengage Learning representative or WebAssign.

When you use WebAssign with the pedagogy and content found in this textbook, you have access to the best-in-breed solution to your homework and assessment needs. Enhanced WebAssign works with your students; providing them the content and tutorial help they need when they need it, as they are doing their homework!

  1. Homework Problems - questions from your textbook
    Choose from over 1900 questions including randomized numerical and algebraic with a math palette for easy entry of mathematical expressions, automatically graded graphs, fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, multi-select, and multi-step. Questions are text-specific, match the end-of-section exercises, and never deviate from the concepts covered in that section. Graphics and figures are taken directly from the text to enhance the questions. Important pedagogical features like vocabulary are also featured in the homework questions.

  2. Skillbuilder Videos - portable office hours
    Students can see and hear additional instruction through the Watch It link from each homework question. The examples worked in each 2-5 minute video correlate to the problems in the homework questions. Students can pause, rewind and fast forward these videos to ensure they get the most out of these problem specific video solutions.

  3. Tutorials - step by step instructions
    Students can see step by step how to do a similar problem with the Practice It and Master It links. Practice It links will typically include either interactive text examples that guide students through the process needed to better understand a concept. Master It links step students through additional concept mastery tutorials.

  4. Textbook Links - portable textbook
    Students will also find helpful Read It links in each question that go directly to the appropriate section of their textbook. Whenever they leave their book behind, they can always refer to the needed sections from within their homework assignment.

  5. Online Tutor - individual help
    Students can chat in real time with experienced math tutors provided by SMARTHINKING. Each question has a link to an online tutor. Students are entitled to one hour of access to SMARTHINKING—a $35 value—for no charge!

Questions Available within WebAssign

Most questions from this textbook are available in WebAssign. The online questions are identical to the textbook questions except for minor wording changes necessary for Web use. Whenever possible, variables, numbers, or words have been randomized so that each student receives a unique version of the question. This list is updated nightly.

Question Group Key
C - Chapter Review
R - Review
T - Test


Question Availability Color Key
BLACK questions are available now
GRAY questions are under development


Group Quantity Questions
Chapter 1: A Review of Basic Algebra
1.R 20 002 006 021 026 042 046 048 052 054 070 072 082 086 092 098 102 112 114 116 120
1.T 19 002 004 006 010 011 012 014 016 018 020 023 025 027 028 030 032 034 036 038
1.1 20 E01 E03 E04 E05 004 008 020 024 026 028 031 032 033 034 035 037 038 040 042 045
1.2 23 E02 E03 E04 E05 002 010 014 026 028 032 036 038 050 052 054 056 058 060 062 064 068 074 078
1.3 23 E03 E12 E14 010 012 018 020 026 042 044 056 066 068 072 082 094 098 100 102 106 108 110 114
1.4 23 E02 E03 E06 E08 006 012 016 022 028 030 034 036 042 048 052 064 076 086 088 092 098 104 110
1.5 24 E03 E09 E13 002 013 017 020 036 044 046 052 062 064 068 070 074 078 094 096 098 100 102 106 110
1.6 24 E01 E03 E05 E06 004 010 012 014 016 018 020 022 024 026 030 032 034 036 038 040 042 044 046 048
1.7 21 E04 E05 E07 E08 004 016 020 026 028 030 032 038 040 044 046 048 050 052 054 060 064
Chapter 2: Graphs, Equations, of Lines, and Functions
2.C 17 002 006 012 016 018 020 024 028 030 032 036 040 041 042 043 044 046
2.R 14 012 021 025 032 037 039 043 044 045 046 047 049 051 053
2.T 19 001 002 004 005 007 008 011 012 013 014 016 018 019 022 025 026 027 028 036
2.1 21 E01 E02 E03 E04 E05 008 010 012 017 030 040 042 048 050 052 054 056 058 061 066 068
2.2 15 E03 E05 E06 003 008 009 020 022 038 040 061 062 064 066 074
2.3 23 E01 E04 E05 E06 006 008 010 016 018 022 024 026 034 042 044 048 050 054 056 058 060 062 068
2.4 24 E02 E03 E04 E05 E07 E08 004 010 014 020 024 032 038 044 050 056 058 066 068 070 072 074 076 080
2.5 19 E03 E04 E06 E08 018 026 034 046 048 050 054 066 085 086 087 088 092 096 098
2.6 23 E03 E04 E05 E06 E07 E08 008 010 012 017 021 022 023 024 025 026 027 028 029 054 060 062 065
Chapter 3: Systems of Equations
3.C 19 002 003 004 005 006 008 010 012 014 016 017 018 019 020 022 024 026 027 028
3.R 19 004 006 008 010 012 014 016 020 022 024 026 028 030 032 034 035 036 038 040
3.T 17 001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 011 012 013 017 018 019 020 022
3.1 23 E02 E03 E05 004 006 010 014 016 018 022 025 030 032 036 038 046 048 052 053 054 056 058 064
3.2 23 E01 E04 E08 E10 004 006 008 012 016 020 032 040 046 048 054 058 062 065 070 072 074 076 084
3.3 24 E01 E03 E04 E06 006 008 009 010 012 016 018 020 022 024 026 030 032 034 036 040 044 046 048 052
3.4 23 E01 E03 E04 E05 004 010 012 014 020 021 022 024 026 028 030 032 036 038 040 050 052 054 058
3.5 24 E01 E03 E04 E06 004 012 014 016 018 024 030 032 036 040 044 046 052 054 056 058 060 062 066 074
Chapter 4: Inequalities
4.C 19 002 004 008 010 011 014 016 018 020 022 024 026 028 030 032 034 036 038 040
4.R 18 002 004 006 008 010 012 016 026 028 030 040 042 043 044 046 048 049 050
4.T 15 002 006 007 008 010 013 014 015 017 019 021 023 024 025 029
4.1 22 E01 E03 E05 E06 002 012 021 024 030 040 042 044 048 050 052 053 054 056 058 060 066 072
4.2 21 E02 E03 E04 E06 006 010 017 022 031 037 044 048 054 057 058 059 060 061 062 064 068
4.3 20 E04 E05 E06 E07 E10 E11 008 036 050 064 074 076 085 086 087 088 089 090 092 098
4.4 24 E01 E02 E03 E04 E05 002 008 010 012 014 016 022 026 030 032 036 038 043 045 046 047 048 050 052
4.5 24 E01 E02 E03 E04 002 004 005 006 010 013 014 018 020 022 024 029 030 032 033 034 035 036 038 040
Chapter 5: Exponents, Polynomials, and Polynomial Functions
5.C 15 003 006 007 010 011 012 013 019 023 024 025 028 029 030 032
5.R 15 012 018 022 024 026 028 044 048 051 059 059combo 064 076 102 109
5.T 14 002 004 006 008 010 012 015 018 022 029 033 037 038 040
5.1 21 E03 E04 E07 E10 002 015 016 018 040 056 066 074 078 109 110 111 112 113 114 117 122
5.2 23 E02 E03 E04 E06 002 004 006 014 020 036 040 042 048 050 054 056 058 060 062 064 066 070 072
5.3 20 E02 E03 E06 E08 022 026 035 044 052 058 060 065 066 067 068 069 070 072 078 082
5.4 22 E03 E06 E09 E10 006 008 018 020 028 030 040 056 064 068 084 094 102 107 108 109 110 112
5.5 21 E02 E05 E06 E07 E09 010 012 014 018 028 036 040 052 060 070 080 086 091 092 093 094
5.6 18 E02 E04 E08 002 004 015 020 032 033 034 036 038 042 044 060 069 070 072
5.7 20 E01 E03 E05 E10 004 008 014 016 020 026 032 044 046 064 066 078 080 093 094 100
5.8 19 E01 E02 E03 E05 004 006 008 012 017 018 020 027 033 037 039 041 045 048 058
5.9 19 E05 E07 E10 002 004 010 026 032 044 054 058 060 062 064 067 070 072 076 080
Chapter 6: Rational Expressions, Equations, and Functions
6.C 20 002 004 006 008 010 012 014 016 018 020 024 026 028 030 034 036 038 040 050 054
6.R 20 004 006 010 011 012 019 023 027 029 030 031 039 041 044 048 050 054 059 060 061
6.T 20 002 003 004 006 007 008 010 012 014 015 016 018 019 020 022 024 026 028 031 032
6.1 24 E02 E03 E04 E06 004 006 008 012 022 024 028 038 050 056 058 064 081 082 083 084 085 086 088 092
6.2 26 E01 E02 E03 E05 E06 E08 004 008 010 012 018 022 026 028 032 034 036 038 042 046 050 056 059 060 062 066
6.3 24 E02 E04 E07 E08 004 006 008 012 020 022 026 030 036 042 046 048 050 054 062 070 072 078 080 086
6.4 23 E01 E02 E03 E04 004 007 008 014 016 020 026 028 036 038 042 046 050 055 056 057 058 060 064
6.5 25 002 006 008 011 012 020 030 032 036 038 042 044 046 052 054 055 058 060 062 064 066 068 072 076 078
6.6 26 E02 004 006 011 014 018 024 030 036 042 044 046 052 054 080 082 084 090 092 094 095 096 097 098 100 104
6.7 19 004 010 013 014 018 022 026 030 032 038 046 048 052 056 058 062 064 070 072
Chapter 7: Radical Expressions, Equations, and Functions
7.R 20 006 010 020 022 028 030 032 051 056 060 062 064 066 071 084 088 092 102 104 108
7.T 20 002 004 006 008 010 012 014 016 018 019 021 023 024 026 028 030 032 034 036 038
7.1 25 E06 E09 003 012 016 018 020 030 046 054 060 066 072 090 096 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 108 112 114
7.2 32 E02 002 006 007 008 010 011 012 018 026 034 038 042 048 050 060 062 070 078 086 090 092 100 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 112 116
7.3 20 004 008 012 014 034 038 054 056 072 080 092 094 098 099 100 101 102 104 106 110
7.4 24 004 006 008 010 014 022 026 032 036 042 046 050 056 060 063 064 065 066 067 068 070 072 078 110
7.5 24 E02 E07 E08 E09 004 008 012 018 020 030 040 052 066 078 098 112 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 126
7.6 33 002 004 006 012 014 016 018 019 020 022 024 026 028 030 032 034 036 038 040 042 043 044 045 046 047 048 049 050 051 051alt 052 054 056
Chapter 8: Quadratic Equations, Functions, and Inequalities
8.C 20 002 004 008 010 012 014 016 018 020 022 028 030 032 034 036 040 041 046 048 050
8.R 20 004 007 009 010 011 014 016 018 023 028 030 036 040 042 046 050 052 054 056 060
8.T 20 001 002 004 005 007 008 010 011 012 014 015 016 017 018 019 020 024 026 028 029
8.1 23 E03 004 006 010 018 020 026 036 038 040 044 046 050 064 072 073 074 076 077 078 080 082 088
8.2 28 001 002 004 009 012 016 020 022 026 028 032 034 038 042 046 050 052 054 055 056 057 058 059 060 062 064 066 067
8.3 21 002 010 014 016 018 020 022 024 026 034 038 042 055 056 057 058 060 063 064 066 076
8.4 21 004 010 014 020 022 028 034 038 042 060 068 076 080 089 098 106 108 111 112 113 118
8.5 23 002 004 006 010 012 016 018 020 026 030 032 036 038 040 050 051 052 053 054 055 056 058 061
8.6 20 002 006 008 014 016 018 020 022 024 026 028 030 032 034 036 038 055 056 058 062
Chapter 9: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
9.R 19 006 008 010 014 018 026 028 032 034 045 055 056 059 064 066 082 086 092 098
9.T 19 001 002 004 005 006 009 010 012 014 015 016 018 022 023 025 026 028 030 036
9.1 23 E01 E02 E03 E05 003 010 013 014 016 022 026 032 038 042 046 052 056 061 062 063 064 066 072
9.2 24 E02 E04 E05 002 011 016 022 024 026 030 034 036 038 040 042 044 048 052 054 058 059 060 062 070
9.3 27 E02 E05 E06 002 008 012 014 016 018 020 022 023 024 034 036 038 040 041 042 047 048 049 050 052 054 056 058
9.4 27 E01 E02 E03 E04 002 004 012 014 016 020 029 030 032 033 034 035 036 037 038 039 040 042 043 044 046 048 050
9.5 26 E03 E07 E08 E09 E10 006 010 014 022 026 036 046 054 064 070 074 088 090 091 092 094 096 098 100 102 104
9.6 25 E01 E02 E03 E04 002 006 010 016 018 020 022 024 026 028 030 032 034 039 040 041 042 043 044 046 052
9.7 31 E07 E09 E10 004 010 012 020 024 026 030 032 040 046 048 052 058 060 062 064 066 074 076 078 080 082 084 089 090 092 094 096
9.8 27 E03 E04 E07 E08 E09 E10 E11 002 014 016 020 028 034 042 058 064 072 076 090 092 098 100 102 104 106 110 116
Chapter 10: Conic Sections; More Graphing
10.C 20 008 010 012 014 016 022 024 026 030 032 034 036 040 042 044 046 048 058 060 068
10.R 19 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010 011 012 013 015 016 017 018 019 020 021
10.T 18 001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010 011 012 013 014 015 016 017 018
10.1 23 E02 E03 E04 004 006 008 014 030 032 034 036 042 049 052 061 062 063 064 066 067 068 070 074
10.2 21 E02 004 006 008 010 012 014 015 016 018 020 025 026 027 028 029 030 031 032 034 036
10.3 20 001 006 008 010 012 013 016 018 020 022 027 028 029 030 031 032 033 034 036 040
10.4 23 E01 E03 E04 003 006 008 010 012 016 024 026 028 032 040 048 049 050 051 052 053 054 056 058
Total 1947