Michael ZieglerRaymond A. Barnett, a native of California, received his B.A. in mathematical statistics from the University of California at Berkeley and his M.A. in mathematics from the University of Southern California. He has been a member of the Merritt CollegeMathematics Department, and was chairman of the department for four years. Raymond Barnett has authored or co-authored eighteen textbooks in mathematics, most of which are still in use. In addition to international English editions, a number of books have been translated into Spanish. Co-authors include Michael Ziegler, Marquette University; Thomas Kearns, Northern University; Charles Burke, City College of San Francisco; John Fuji, Merritt College; and Karl Byleen, Marquette University. Michael R. Ziegler received his B.S. from Shippensburg StateCollege and his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Delaware. After completing post doctoral work at the University of Kentucky, he was appointed to the faculty of Marquette University where he currently holds the rank of Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science. Dr. Ziegler has published over a dozen research articles in complex analysis and has co-authored eleven undergraduate mathematics textbooks with Raymond A. Barnett, and more recently, Karl E. Byleen. Karl E. Byleen received the B.S., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in mathematics from the University of Nebraska. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science of Marquette University. He has published a dozen research articles on the algebraic theory of semigroups. Why We wrote This Book: This text is written for student comprehension. Great care has beentaken to write a book that is mathematically correct and accessible. We emphasize computational skills, ideas, and problem solving rather than mathematical theory. Most derivations and proofs are omitted except where their inclusion adds significant insight into a particular concept. General concepts and results are usually presented only after particular cases have been discussed. Graphing calculators and computers are playing an increasing role in mathematics education and in real-world applications of mathematics. This books deals with the mathematics that is required to use modern technology effectively as an OPTIONAL feature. In appropriate places in the text, there are clearly identified examples and exercises related to graphing calculators and computers, illustrations of applications of spreadsheets, and sample computer output. All of these may be omitted without loss of continuity. Read More Read Less