College Algebra (9th Edition) review:1 stars (I think I know why they use this book) - After reading the previous reviews for this book, I realized one question kept surfacing. Why? Why did my instructor choose this book?
A very likely answer is this book could have been chosen based on the margin of profit the school bookstore makes off of it. I don't know this for certain, but I have encountered similiar problems with texts chosen when I was in college. A useless, high-priced text book was often a sign of a greedy college bookstore. I would tend to suspect this when we were required to spend quite a bit for inferior texts--esp. ones that changed editions often (requiring you to buy the 'newest' book). The instructor may have had little to do with the choice.
I don't have much to say about this particular book, but when in this type of situation there are a few steps you can take. Attend every class and take good notes. If you notice most of the other students don't understand a particular concept, go to the instructor and ask that the lesson be repeated. Use the book only to work the assigned problems- use your notes for the methods.
Hope this helps!
1 stars (College Algebra, 9th edition, by Lial) - I just got done with taking my final in College Algebra using this textbook. I was extremely frustrated and stressed during the whole course because I just couldn't get it! This book did not explain enough and just quickly glossed over or assumed that you knew the info already. Definitely not written for students, but for professors already gifted in algebra!! Needless to say, I struggled through this whole course. I had to buy three other algebra books just to understand what this textbook left out. I would not recommend this textbook at all! 1 stars (If there was a zero rating, this book would have it.) - Incomprehensible is the best word I can find for this book. I'm good at math and I can't understand half this book. It's the worst textbook I have ever had to deal with. Obviously college instructors do not read the reviews.The authors give one poor example for every problem, work through the sections as if the reader already knows all the methods, and introduce new concepts without so much as a definition. It's BAD BAD BAD!College instructors: If you want to confuse your students and discourage them from taking any more classes in math, choose this book.
College Algebra (9th Edition) Features:
Author: Margaret L. Lial
Author: John Hornsby
Author: David I. Schneider
Mathematics / Pre-Calculus

College Algebra (9th Edition) is the Hardcover version. The full version can be purchased by clicking on the "CLICK HERE TO ORDER" button below for around 98.40USD.