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Title: Another bad math book from Lial
Review: I've had the unfortunate fate of being trapped in two courses with Margaret Lial textbooks, first college algebra and now basic calculus. Every section we've used (Chapters 11, 12, 13) comes with a short explanation usually peppered with abstract theory. The example problems presented in the lead-in to the homework provide very little clues toward solving homework problems because many steps are taken for granted and other problem types are entirely left out. When using the back of the book to check answers, it is just as incomprehensible. Lial will take inconsistent and unconventional algebraic steps towards providing an answer. The answers are still equivalent; however it will usually take the guidance of an instructor and/or tutor to show their equivalence, because many times it is not intuitive. I really can't think of any good aspects of this book, other than for a professor to use to produce a high dropout rate in their class.
