Best Intermediate Algebra textbooks?

[BadgerBadger92]

I want to teach myself math, and am trying to start with intermediate algebra. What are some of the best textbooks on this subject, especially for someone trying to learn this without a class?

 

[fresh_42]

Not quite sure what intermediate algebra means specifically. But on OpenStax you can find out for free what you may be looking for. The books may not be the best choices, but they could help to specify your question. As school books they are as good as any in my opinion. If algebra means abstract algebra, then things are different.

 

[BadgerBadger92]

Just any kind of textbook for the beginning of learning algebra, I guess "complete beginner algebra" is the best I am implying. Not sure how to put it more simply.

 

[fresh_42]

Have a look at the link. Those books are ok. I don't know whether they offer a printed version, but the pdf are good to start with - at various levels. The downloads are free, so just look at them.

In case you look for specific books, then my question is about your goals. E.g. for helping someone at school their school books would probably be the best recommendation.

 

[Mark44]

Just any kind of textbook for the beginning of learning algebra,

In post #1 you mentioned "intermediate algebra."
Here are some of the books I found listed on Amazon, that are relatively inexpensive. These are all intermediate algebra. If that's too advanced for you, do a search for "beginning algebra" or "elementary algebra."

Intermediate Algebra: Graphs & Functions, Ron Larson $20.99
Intermediate Algebra, Charles P. McKeague $47.80
Intermediate Algebra (10th ed): Margaret Lial $34.97
Intermediate Algebra, 6th ed, D. Franklin Wright $16.32

Some of the textbooks are quite expensive, running above $100 and nearly to $200. Of the books I've listed, Larson, McKeague, and Lial have been producing algebra books for at least 25 years. I'm not familiar with the last author I mentioned, but it seemed like a reasonable price for a textbook.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I want to teach myself math, and am trying to start with intermediate algebra

Why do you want to start in the middle?

 

[BadgerBadger92]

Because I already have an understanding of elementary algebra

 

[Vanadium 50]

I guess "complete beginner algebra" is the best I am implying.

Because I already have an understanding of elementary algebra

Once you make up your mind, you can get back to us. Until we know what the question is, it's hard to craft a good answer.

 

[fresh_42]

Until we know what the question is, it's hard to craft a good answer.

Except to have a look at the linked variety of (free) books from Rice University to achieve this improvement.

 

[PAllen]

I can recommend this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000CNKYL/?tag=pfamazon01-20

old, cheap used, but this material doesn’t really change.

 

[symbolipoint]

Because I already have an understanding of elementary algebra

Why do you want to start in the middle?

Because I already have an understanding of elementary algebra

Completely understandable.
Someone who understands "elementary algebra" well enough could begin reviewing at Intermediate Algebra and learn well at this level. Textbooks of Intermed algebra often contain a brief review of some of Elementary Algebra. Usually the books take you from where you were with Elementary and just push things farther.

 

[symbolipoint]

You could spend as little as one or two dollars for a very good or excellent textbook of Intermediate Algebra from library used-book sales. Look for authors such as Larson, Larson & Hostetler, Wright & New, Gilbert & Perez, Aufmann, Barker, Nation; there are others.

 

[archaic]

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupid?key=olbp36404
Don't pay much attention to the word "elementary". Read the preface and have a look at the table of contents of the first book, it contains an awful lot of topics.
You might find watching videos more engaging, though.



Or good ol' Khan Academy!
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra2

 

[epenguin]

Your description of your level is confused and confusing. Your profile gives you 'undergrad' which to me means at University having done the school syllabus. Plus your favorite areas are not pure math, which makes some difference to recommendations. Though maybe you want to extend outside the physics-relevant area.

Especially if you are at University have you considered visiting a bookshop? If there still are such places where you are you could browse there through books and see if one seems appropriate level and style for you. Don't forget the secondhand section if there is one. In big enough cities there are whole secondhand bookshops where troves sometimes turn up.

 

[mathwonk]

my favorite algebra book, going from absolute beginning to material taught in graduate courses, is Elements of Algebra, by L. Euler. Here is the first page, which will give the flavor. In adition, it is available for free online.
https://archive.org/details/ElementsOfAlgebraLeonhardEuler2015/mode/2up

1. Whatever is capable of increase or diminution is called magnitude, or quantity. A sum of money therefore is a quantity, since we may increase it or diminish it. It is the same with a weight, and other things of this nature. 2. From this definition, it is evident that the different kinds of magnitude must be so various, as to render it difficult to enumerate them: and this is the origin of the different branches of the Mathematics, each being employed on a particular kind of magnitude. Mathematics, in general, is the science of quantity; or, the science which investigates the means of measuring quantity. 3. Now, we cannot measure or determine any quantity, except by considering some other quantity of the same kind as known, and pointing out their mutual relation. If it were proposed, for example, to determine the quantity of a sum of money, we should take some known piece of money, as a louis, a crown, a ducat, or some other coin, and show how many of these pieces are contained in the given sum. In the same manner, if it were proposed to determine the quantity of a weight, we should take a certain known weight; for example, a pound, an ounce, etc. and then show how many times one of these weights is contained in that which we are endeavouring to ascertain. If we wished to measure any length or extension, we should make use of some known length, such as a foot. 4. So that the determination, or the measure of magnitude of all kinds, is reduced to this: fix at pleasure upon anyone known magnitude of the same species with that which is to be determined, and consider it as the measure or unit; then, determine the proportion of the proposed magnitude to this known measure. This proportion is always expressed by numbers; so that a number is nothing but the proportion of one magnitude to another arbitrarily assumed as the unit. 5. From this it appears that all magnitudes may be expressed by numbers; and that the foundation of all the Mathematical Sciences must be laid in a complete treatise on the science of Numbers, and in an accurate examination of the different possible methods of calculation. This fundamental part of mathematics is called Analysis, or Algebra[4].

 

[Mondayman]

I find most textbooks titles 'Intermediate Algebra' are all pretty similar. You could check your school library if they have one that speaks to you. Alternatively, you could order a cheap early edition by Lial. That's the one I used and it was easy to learn from for someone just learning algebra.

 

[Vanadium 50]

The OP hasn't been here in a month, and it was still unclear exactly what he was looking for when he left.

 

[symbolipoint]

I want to teach myself math, and am trying to start with intermediate algebra. What are some of the best textbooks on this subject, especially for someone trying to learn this without a class?

In post #1 you mentioned "intermediate algebra."
Here are some of the books I found listed on Amazon, that are relatively inexpensive. These are all intermediate algebra. If that's too advanced for you, do a search for "beginning algebra" or "elementary algebra."

Intermediate Algebra: Graphs & Functions, Ron Larson $20.99
Intermediate Algebra, Charles P. McKeague $47.80
Intermediate Algebra (10th ed): Margaret Lial $34.97
Intermediate Algebra, 6th ed, D. Franklin Wright $16.32

Some of the textbooks are quite expensive, running above $100 and nearly to $200. Of the books I've listed, Larson, McKeague, and Lial have been producing algebra books for at least 25 years. I'm not familiar with the last author I mentioned, but it seemed like a reasonable price for a textbook.

Because I already have an understanding of elementary algebra

You could spend as little as one or two dollars for a very good or excellent textbook of Intermediate Algebra from library used-book sales. Look for authors such as Larson, Larson & Hostetler, Wright & New, Gilbert & Perez, Aufmann, Barker, Nation; there are others.

The OP hasn't been here in a month, and it was still unclear exactly what he was looking for when he left.

The original poster, BadgerBadger92, would seem to now have good enough information for what he wants to do. He described having adequate Introductory Algebra knowledge and wanted to learn Intermediate Algebra on his own. He should have basically no trouble finding a fine book to learn from.