This textbook aims to demonstrate the relevance of mathematics to the modern student's life. It achieves this through concise writing, continuous review, and contemporary applications, building upon the author's passion for teaching. The 8th edition offers guided practice, review, and reinforcement, incorporating hundreds of new examples and applications to help students build their skills.

The textbook is designed to connect mathematics to the modern student's world through concise writing and continuous review. It emphasizes guided practice, reinforcement, and contemporary applications to build student skills. The inclusion of numerous examples and exercises, supported by digital resources like Enhanced WebAssign, aims to facilitate learning and skill demonstration.