College Algebra with Applications for Business and the Life Sciences 2nd edition

Textbook Cover

Ron Larson and Anne V. Hodgkins
Publisher: Cengage Learning

enhanced content

Cengage Unlimited

Included in a Cengage Unlimited subscription. Learn More

eBook

eBook

Your students can pay an additional fee for access to an online version of the textbook that might contain additional interactive features.

personal study plan

Personal Study Plan Module

Your students can use chapter and section assessments to gauge their mastery of the material and generate individualized study plans that include various online, interactive multimedia resources.

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.

textbook resources

Textbook Resources

Additional instructional and learning resources are available with the textbook, and might include testbanks, slide presentations, online simulations, videos, and documents.


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

  • Chapter 0: Fundamental Concepts of Algebra
    • 0.1: Real Numbers: Order and Absolute Value (46)
    • 0.2: The Basic Rules of Algebra (35)
    • 0.3: Integer Exponents (38)
    • 0.4: Radicals and Rational Exponents (44)
    • 0.5: Polynomials and Special Products (34)
    • 0.6: Factoring (38)
    • 0.7: Fractional Expressions (33)
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself

  • Chapter 1: Equations and Inequalities
    • 1.1: Linear Equations (28)
    • 1.2: Mathematical Modeling (34)
    • 1.3: Quadratic Equations (42)
    • 1.4: The Quadratic Formula (31)
    • 1.5: Other Types of Equations (33)
    • 1.6: Linear Inequalities (39)
    • 1.7: Other Types of Inequalities (25)
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Review Exercises

  • Chapter 2: Functions and Graphs
    • 2.1: Graphs of Equations (40)
    • 2.2: Lines in the Plane (43)
    • 2.3: Linear Modeling and Direct Variation (24)
    • 2.4: Functions (34)
    • 2.5: Graphs of Functions (32)
    • 2.6: Transformations of Functions (26)
    • 2.7: The Algebra of Functions (29)
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Review Exercises

  • Chapter 3: Polynomial and Rational Functions
    • 3.1: Quadratic Functions and Models (25)
    • 3.2: Polynomial Functions of Higher Degree (31)
    • 3.3: Polynomial Division (34)
    • 3.4: Real Zeros of Polynomial Functions (28)
    • 3.5: Complex Numbers (31)
    • 3.6: The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra (31)
    • 3.7: Rational Functions (31)
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Review Exercises

  • Chapter 4: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
    • 4.1: Inverse Functions (32)
    • 4.2: Exponential Functions (31)
    • 4.3: Logarithmic Functions (46)
    • 4.4: Properties of Logarithms (48)
    • 4.5: Solving Exponential and Logarithmic Equations (49)
    • 4.6: Exponential and Logarithmic Models (28)
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Review Exercises

  • Chapter 5: Systems of Equations and Inequalities
    • 5.1: Solving Systems Using Substitution (33)
    • 5.2: Solving Systems Using Elimination (23)
    • 5.3: Linear Systems in Three or More Variables (31)
    • 5.4: Systems of Inequalities (27)
    • 5.5: Linear Programming (30)
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Review Exercises

  • Chapter 6: Matrices and Determinants
    • 6.1: Matrices and Linear Systems (37)
    • 6.2: Operations with Matrices (38)
    • 6.3: The Inverse of a Square Matrix (31)
    • 6.4: The Determinant of a Square Matrix (37)
    • 6.5: Applications of Matrices and Determinants (32)
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Review Exercises

  • Chapter 7: Sequences, Series, and Probability
    • 7.1: Sequences and Summation Notation (41)
    • 7.2: Arithmetic Sequences and Partial Sums (43)
    • 7.3: Geometric Sequences and Series (39)
    • 7.4: The Binomial Theorem (32)
    • 7.5: Counting Principles (37)
    • 7.6: Probability (41)
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Review Exercises

  • Chapter A: Appendix A
    • A.1: An Introduction to Graphing Utilities
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Review Exercises

  • Chapter B: Appendix B
    • B.1: Conic Sections
    • B.2: Conic Sections and Translations
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Review Exercises

  • Chapter C: Appendix C
    • C.1: Data and Linear Modeling
    • C.2: Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Review Exercises

  • Chapter D: Appendix D
    • D.1: Mathematical Induction (Web)
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Test Yourself
    • Review Exercises

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
MI - Master It
SBS - Step By Step
XP - Extra Problem


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


Group Quantity Questions
Chapter 0: Fundamental Concepts of Algebra
0.1 46 002 004 006 008 010 012 014 018 020 024.MI 024.MI.SA 028 030 034 036 038 040 042 046 048 052 054 056 058 060 062 063 064 068.SBS 070.MI 070.MI.SA 073 076 078 082 084 086 088 092 501.XP 503.XP 504.XP 505.XP.MI 505.XP.MI.SA 506.XP 508.XP
0.2 35 002 004 010 012.MI 012.MI.SA 014 016 018.SBS 020 022 024 026 028 030 032 034 036 038 040 042 044 048 050.MI 050.MI.SA 052 054.MI 054.MI.SA 056 058 060 066 070 502.XP 503.XP 504.XP
0.3 38 004.MI 004.MI.SA 006 008 010 012 014 016 018 022 026 028 030 032 034 036 038 040 044 048 050 052 054.SBS 058 062 064 066 068 070 078 080 084 086.MI 086.MI.SA 501.XP.MI 501.XP.MI.SA 502.XP 503.XP
0.4 44 014 016 018 020 024 026 030 032.MI 032.MI.SA 034 040 042 044.SBS 048 050.MI 050.MI.SA 052 058 060 062 064 066 070 072 074 078 080 086 090 094 096 097.MI 097.MI.SA 100 102 106 108 501.XP 502.XP 503.XP 504.XP 505.XP 506.XP 507.XP
0.5 34 008 010 012 014 016 018.SBS 020.MI 020.MI.SA 022 024 026 028 030 034 036 040 042 044 046 048 050 052 054 056 060 065 501.XP 502.XP 503.XP.MI 503.XP.MI.SA 504.XP.MI 504.XP.MI.SA 505.XP 506.XP
0.6 38 002 004.MI 004.MI.SA 008 010 012.SBS 016 020 022 024 026 028.MI 028.MI.SA 030 034 036 038 042 044 046 048.MI 048.MI.SA 050 052 056 058 062 064 066 068 072 073 074 076 078 080 086 501.XP
0.7 33 002.MI 002.MI.SA 004 008 010 014 016 018 020.MI 020.MI.SA 022.SBS 024 026 030 032 034 036 040 042 046 048 052 054 056 060.MI 060.MI.SA 062 064 066 068 070 501.XP 502.XP
Chapter 1: Equations and Inequalities
1.1 28 006.MI 006.MI.SA 008 012 014 018 020.MI 020.MI.SA 024 028.SBS 030 034 040 044 046 050 054 056.MI 056.MI.SA 062 064 068 071 072 076 501.XP 503.XP 504.XP
1.2 34 004 008 012 016 020 024 026 030 032 034 036 039 044.MI 044.MI.SA 048 052 054 058 060 062 064 067 072 074.MI 074.MI.SA 075 501.XP.MI 501.XP.MI.SA 502.XP 503.XP.SBS 504.XP 505.XP 507.XP 508.XP
1.3 42 004 006.MI 006.MI.SA 007 010 012 014 016 018 020.SBS 022 024 028 030 032 034 036 040 042 044 046 050 052 054 058 062 066 068 070 072 074 078 080.MI 080.MI.SA 084 086 089 090 092 501.XP.MI 501.XP.MI.SA 503.XP
1.4 31 002.MI 002.MI.SA 004 006 010 012 013.SBS 015 018 020 024 026 030.MI 030.MI.SA 036 038 042 046 048 052 054 056 060 062 066 070 074 501.XP 502.XP.MI 502.XP.MI.SA 503.XP
1.5 33 004.SBS 006.MI 006.MI.SA 008 010 012 014 018 020 022 024 026 030.MI 030.MI.SA 034 038 040 043 046 048 052 054 056 060 066 068 072 074 078.MI 078.MI.SA 501.XP 502.XP 503.XP
1.6 39 002 004.MI 004.MI.SA 008 012 016 018 022 026 030 032 036.SBS 040 042 044 046 050 056 060 064 066 068 070 074 076 078 080 082 084.MI 084.MI.SA 088 091 096 098 102 501.XP 502.XP 503.XP.MI 503.XP.MI.SA
1.7 25 004.MI 004.MI.SA 010 014 018.SBS 022 026 030 034 038 042 046 048 050.MI 050.MI.SA 052 056 060 064 068 072.MI 072.MI.SA 076 501.XP 503.XP
Chapter 2: Functions and Graphs
2.1 40 004.SBS 006 010 012 014.MI 014.MI.SA 018 020 022 024 026 030 036 042.MI 042.MI.SA 044 050 056 062 064 066 070 074 078 080 082 086 088 092 096 100 104.MI 104.MI.SA 107 108 501.XP 502.XP 503.XP 504.XP 506.XP
2.2 43 008 010.SBS 012 018 022 024 028 030 032 036.MI 036.MI.SA 040 042 044 048 050 054 056 060 064 066 068 070 072 074 077 078 079 082 084 086 088 092 094 096 501.XP 502.XP 503.XP 504.XP.MI 504.XP.MI.SA 505.XP 506.XP.MI 506.XP.MI.SA
2.3 24 006.MI 006.MI.SA 008 010 012 016 018 020 022 024.SBS 026 030 032.MI 032.MI.SA 034.MI 034.MI.SA 038 042 046 501.XP 502.XP 503.XP 505.XP 506.XP
2.4 34 006 008 010 013 016 018 022 026 028 030.SBS 032 036 038 040 044 048 052.MI 052.MI.SA 056 058 060 064 066 070 072.MI 072.MI.SA 074 080.MI 080.MI.SA 082 084 085 089 501.XP
2.5 32 004 008.MI 008.MI.SA 010 014 018 022 024 028 030.SBS 032 036 038 040.MI 040.MI.SA 044 048 049 052 054 058 062 066 070 072 076 082 085 086 090 093.MI 093.MI.SA
2.6 26 002 006 008 010.MI 010.MI.SA 014 020 024 026 030 032 036 040.MI 040.MI.SA 046 048 052 056 058 062 064.MI 064.MI.SA 066 501.XP 502.XP.SBS 503.XP
2.7 29 002 006 010 012 014.MI 014.MI.SA 016 018 020 024 028 030.SBS 032 036 038 040.MI 040.MI.SA 042 044 048 052 054 060 061 064 067 501.XP 502.XP 503.XP.MI
Chapter 3: Polynomial and Rational Functions
3.1 25 004 008 010 012 016 018 022 026 028 030 034.MI 034.MI.SA 036 038.MI 038.MI.SA 040 042 046 048 050.MI 050.MI.SA 052 055 501.XP 502.XP
3.2 31 002 006 008 012 014 020 024.MI 024.MI.SA 026.SBS 028 030 032 034 036.MI 036.MI.SA 038 040 044 046 050 052 054 056 058 059 064 068 076.MI 076.MI.SA 079 501.XP
3.3 34 004 008 010.MI 010.MI.SA 014 016 020 022 026.SBS 028 032 036.MI 036.MI.SA 038 040 042 044 046 050 052 054 056 058 064 068 072 074 076 080 084 085.MI 085.MI.SA 501.XP 502.XP
3.4 28 004 006 010 014 016.MI 016.MI.SA 020 022 024 026.MI 026.MI.SA 028 034.MI 034.MI.SA 036 038.SBS 040 042 046 048 054 055 060 062 066 068 070 073
3.5 31 002 004 008.MI 008.MI.SA 010 014 016 020 024 026 028.SBS 032 034 036 038 040 042 046.MI 046.MI.SA 052 054 058 064 066.MI 066.MI.SA 070 076 080 084 086 501.XP
3.6 31 004 006 007.MI 007.MI.SA 008 012 014 016 018 022 024 026.MI 026.MI.SA 030 032 038 042 046 048 052.SBS 054 056 060 062 069 501.XP 503.XP.MI 503.XP.MI.SA 505.XP 506.XP 507.XP
3.7 31 004 008.MI 008.MI.SA 010 012 014 016 018 020 022 024 026 030 034.MI 034.MI.SA 038 048 052 058 060 064 068 076 078 082 086 501.XP.SBS 502.XP.MI 502.XP.MI.SA 503.XP 504.XP
Chapter 4: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
4.1 32 002.MI 002.MI.SA 004 006 010.SBS 018 020.MI 020.MI.SA 024 026 028 030 034 036 038 044 050 054 056 059 060 064 066 068 070 071 074 501.XP 502.XP.MI 502.XP.MI.SA 503.XP 504.XP
4.2 31 004 007 010 014 018 024 026 028 032 036 042.MI 042.MI.SA 044 046 048 050 052 056.SBS 058.MI 058.MI.SA 060 062 066 068 070.MI 070.MI.SA 072 076 501.XP 502.XP 503.XP
4.3 46 001 004 006 008 010 012 014 018 020 022 026 028 030 032 036 038 040 042 048 052 054.SBS 056.MI 056.MI.SA 058 060 064.MI 064.MI.SA 066 068 072 074 076 078 080 081 083 086 088 090 094.MI 094.MI.SA 097 099 102 501.XP 502.XP
4.4 48 002 006 008 010 012 016 020 024 030 032 034.MI 034.MI.SA 038 040 042 044 046 048 050 056 060 062 064 068 070 072 076 078 080 084 086 090 092 098 100 101 104.SBS 106 108 110 111 501.XP 502.XP.MI 502.XP.MI.SA 503.XP 504.XP 505.XP.MI 505.XP.MI.SA
4.5 49 002.MI 002.MI.SA 004 006 010 012 014 018 022 024 028 030.MI 030.MI.SA 032 036 040 042 044 046 050 052 056 060 064 066 068 070 074 076 078 080 084 086 088 090 092 096 098 100 102 103 501.XP 502.XP.SBS 503.XP 504.XP.MI 504.XP.MI.SA 505.XP 506.XP 507.XP
4.6 28 004 006 008 012 014.SBS 018 020 024 026 028.MI 028.MI.SA 030 032 034 036 038.MI 038.MI.SA 042 046.MI 046.MI.SA 050 054 056 058 060 062 501.XP 502.XP
Chapter 5: Systems of Equations and Inequalities
5.1 33 002.MI 002.MI.SA 004 008 014 016 018 022 026 028 030 032.SBS 034 038 040 042 044 045 046 050 054 056 060 066 070 072 074.MI 074.MI.SA 076 079 080 501.XP 503.XP
5.2 23 004 010 014.MI 014.MI.SA 018.SBS 020 024 026.MI 026.MI.SA 030 032 034 038 040 046 048.SBS 050 052 056 060.MI 060.MI.SA 062 064
5.3 31 001 006 010 012 016.MI 016.MI.SA 020.SBS 021 024 028 030 034 036 038 042 044 046 048 050 052 054.MI 054.MI.SA 056 058 060 062 066 501.XP.MI 501.XP.MI.SA 502.XP 503.XP
5.4 27 001 006 008 010 012 014 018 020 026.MI 026.MI.SA 028 032 036 040 042 044 048.SBS 050 052 054 060.MI 060.MI.SA 062 501.XP.MI 501.XP.MI.SA 502.XP 504.XP
5.5 30 002.MI 002.MI.SA 004 006 010.SBS 012 014 016 018.MI 018.MI.SA 020 022 024 026 028 030 032 033 036 038.MI 038.MI.SA 040 044 046 048 050 052 056 507.XP 508.XP
Chapter 6: Matrices and Determinants
6.1 37 002 006 012 016 018 020 022 024 028.MI 028.MI.SA 030 036 040 042.MI 042.MI.SA 044 046 048 052 054 058 060 066.MI 066.MI.SA 070 072 074 078 080 082 084 086 090 501.XP 502.XP 503.XP 504.XP
6.2 38 002 004 006 010 012 014 018 020 022 024 026.SBS 030.MI 030.MI.SA 032 036 038 040 042.MI 042.MI.SA 044 048 050 054 055 056 061 062 066 070 074 075 078 080 084 086 501.XP 502.XP 503.XP
6.3 31 002 004 008 011 014 016 018 024 028.MI 028.MI.SA 033 036 042 046 048 052 056 060 062.MI 062.MI.SA 066 068 072 074 076.SBS 078 084 086 501.XP 502.XP 503.XP
6.4 37 002 004.SBS 008 010 012.MI 012.MI.SA 014 018 020 024.MI 024.MI.SA 028 030 032 036 038 040 046 052 054 056 058 062 064 066 070 072 074 076 082 086 092 096 100 501.XP.MI 501.XP.MI.SA 502.XP
6.5 32 002 004 008.MI 008.MI.SA 009 010 012 014 016 018 020.MI 020.MI.SA 022 026 028 030 032.MI 032.MI.SA 034 036.SBS 040 042 044 046 050 054 056 058 059 060 062 501.XP
Chapter 7: Sequences, Series, and Probability
7.1 41 002 004 006.MI 006.MI.SA 008 010 012 016 018 020 024 026 030 032 034 036 038 040 042 046 050 052 054 057 058 060.MI 060.MI.SA 064 066 070 074.SBS 078.SBS 080 082 086 096 098 501.XP 502.XP.MI 502.XP.MI.SA 503.XP
7.2 43 002 006 008.MI 008.MI.SA 010 012 014 016 020 022 024 028 030 032 036 038 040 044 046 050 052 054 056 058 060 064.SBS 068 070 072 074 076 080 082 084 086 088 090 092 095.MI 095.MI.SA 501.XP.MI 501.XP.MI.SA 502.XP
7.3 39 004 008 010.SBS 014.MI 014.MI.SA 016 018 021 024 026 030 032 034 036 040 042 046 048 050 051 054 059 062.MI 062.MI.SA 064 068 072 074 076 080 082 086 090 092.MI 092.MI.SA 094 096 098 100
7.4 32 002 006 008 012 016.SBS 018 020 022.SBS 026 028.MI 028.MI.SA 030 032 036 038 040 042.MI 042.MI.SA 044 046 050 052 054 056 060 062 064 066.MI 066.MI.SA 070 072 501.XP
7.5 37 002 004 008 010 014.SBS 016 018 020 022 024 026 028 030 034 036 040 044 046 048 050 054 056 058 060 063 064 068 070 072.MI 072.MI.SA 074 078 080.MI 080.MI.SA 084 501.XP.MI 501.XP.MI.SA
7.6 41 002 004 006 010 012.MI 012.MI.SA 014 018 020 022 024 029 030 034.SBS 036 038 042 046 048 050 052 056 058 060 062.MI 062.MI.SA 063 064 065 066 069 071 072 075 078 080 501.XP 503.XP.MI 503.XP.MI.SA 504.XP 505.XP
Total 1725