Wheater - Idiots Guides: Algebra I

No one likes a know-it-all. Most of us realize theres no such thinghow could there be? The world is far too complicated for someone to understand everything there is to know. So when you come across a know-it-all, you smile to yourself as they ramble on because you know better.

You understand that the quest for knowledge is a never-ending one, and youre okay with that. You have no desire to know everything, just the next thing. You know what you dont know, youre confident enough to admit it, and youre motivated to do something about it.

At Idiots Guides, we, too, know what we dont know, and we make it our business to find out. We find really smart people who are experts in their fields and then we roll up our sleeves and get to work, asking lots of questions and thinking long and hard about how best to pass along their knowledge to you in the easiest, most-accessible way possible.

After all, thats our promiseto make whatever you want to learn As Easy as It Gets. That means giving you a well-organized design that seamlessly and effortlessly guides you from page to page, topic to topic.

It means controlling the pace youre asked to absorb new information not too much at once but just what you need to know right now. It means giving you a clear progression from easy to more difficult. It means giving you more instructional steps wherever necessary to really explain the details. And it means giving you fewer words and more illustrations wherever its better to show rather than tell.

So here you are, at the start of something new. The next chapter in your quest. It can be an intimidating place to be, but youve been here before and so have we. Clear your mind and turn the page. By the end of this book, you wont be a know-it-all, but your world will be a little less complicated than it was before. And well be sure your journey is as easy as it gets.

Mike Sanders
Publisher, Idiots Guides

For my daughter

ALPHA BOOKS

Published by Penguin Random House LLC

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Copyright 2015 by Penguin Random House LLC

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IDIOTS GUIDES and Design are trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC

eISBN: 9781615647767

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2014957362

17 16 15 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Interpretation of the printing code: The rightmost number of the first series of numbers is the year of the books printing; the rightmost number of the second series of numbers is the number of the books printing. For example, a printing code of 151 shows that the first printing occurred in 2015.

Printed in the United States of America

Note: This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering professional services in the book. If the reader requires personal assistance or advice, a competent professional should be consulted. The author and publisher specifically disclaim any responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book.

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Publisher:Mike Sanders

Associate Publisher:Billy Fields

Senior Acquisitions Editor:Lori Cates Hand

Development Editor:Ann Barton

Senior Production Editor:Janette Lynn

Cover Designer:Laura Merriman

Book Designer:William Thomas

Indexer:Brad Herriman

Layout:Brian Massey

Proofreader:Laura Caddell

PRODUCTION, LONDON

Digital Producer:Alex Valizadeh

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Contents

Introduction

Do you have a favorite type of reading? Do you love romance or biography? What about movies and television? Is there a genre that you prefer? Are you a science fiction buff, or a reality show junkie? I enjoy a lot of those, but if I have to pick a favorite type of story to read or watch, Ill go for mysteries every time. Within the general heading of mysteries, my true passion is police procedurals, or in common language, cop shows. The ones that involve great forensic science are particular favorites but anything that involves investigation will get my attention.

You might be wondering why Im talking about books and movies in an algebra book. You can probably find quite a few people who would describe algebra as a mystery, and of course, with all the problems that instruct us to find x, algebra can feel like an endless search. The real connection, I think, is between the structure of the story and the structure of this book.

How This Book Is Organized