CLEP College Algebra Book + Online

by Stu Schwartz

Overview

Earn College Credit with REA’s Test Prep for CLEP College Algebra

Everything you need to pass the exam and get the college credit you deserve.

REA leads the way in helping students pass their College Board CLEP exams and earn college credit while reducing their tuition costs.

With 25+ years of experience in test prep for the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), REA is your trusted source for the most up-to-date test-aligned content. Whether you’re an adult returning to finish your degree, a traditional-age college student, a military service member, or a high school or home-schooled student looking to get a head start on college and shorten your path to graduation, CLEP is perfect for you.

REA’s expert authors know the CLEP tests inside out. And thanks to our partners at Proctortrack (proctortrack.com/clep), you can now take your exam at your convenience, from the comfort of home.
 
Prep for success on the CLEP College Algebra exam with REA’s personalized three-step plan: (1) focus your study, (2) review with the book, and (3) measure your test-readiness.

Our Book + Online prep gives you all the tools you need to make the most of your study time:

• Diagnostic exam: Pinpoint what you already know and what you need to study.
• Targeted subject review: Learn what you’ll be tested on.
• Two full-length practice exams: Zero in on the topics that give you trouble now so you’ll be confident and prepared on test day.
• Glossary of key terms: Round out your prep with must-know vocabulary.

REA is America’s recognized leader in CLEP preparation. Our test prep helps you earn valuable college credit, save on tuition, and accelerate your path to a college degree.
 
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738611518
Publisher:	Research & Education Association
Publication date:	07/22/2013
Series:	CLEP Test Preparation
Edition description:	Eighth Edition, Revised
Pages:	360
Sales rank:	484,384
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 9.90(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	16 - 18 Years

About the Author

Stu Schwartz has been teaching mathematics since 1973. For 35 years he taught in the Wissahickon School District, in Ambler, Pennsylvania, specializing in calculus and statistics. He also taught statistics at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia.

Mr. Schwartz is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the highest recognition for a K-12 mathematics or science teacher in the United States. He was also honored with the Outstanding Educator of the Year Award for the Wissahickon School District. Outside the classroom, Mr. Schwartz has done consulting work with the Math and Science Partnership of Greater Philadelphia, focusing on factors affecting success in college in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) degrees. His Master Math Mentor website, at www.mastermathmentor.com, offers a wealth of free resources for mathematics teachers. - including lesson plans, practice exams, and games.

Mr. Schwartz received his B.S. degree in mathematics from Temple University.

Read an Excerpt

PASSING THE CLEP COLLEGE ALGEBRA EXAM
Congratulations! You're joining the millions of people who have discovered the value and educational advantage offered by the College Board's College-Level Examination Program, or CLEP. This test prep covers everything you need to know about the CLEP College Algebra exam, and will help you earn the college credit you deserve while reducing your tuition costs.

GETTING STARTED
There are many different ways to prepare for a CLEP exam. What's best for you depends on how much time you have to study and how comfortable you are with the subject matter. To score your highest, you need a system that can be customized to fit you: your schedule, your learning style, and your current level of knowledge.

This book, and the online tools that come with it, allow you to create a personalized study plan through three simple steps: assessment of your knowledge, targeted review of exam content, and reinforcement in the areas where you need the most help.

Let's get started and see how this system works.

Test Yourself & Get Feedback - Score reports from your online diagnostic and practice tests give you a fast way to pinpoint what you already know and where you need to spend more time studying.

Review with the Book - Study the topics tested on the CLEP exam. Targeted review chapters cover everything you need to know.

Improve Your Score - Armed with your score reports, you can personalize your study plan. Review the parts of the book where you're weakest and study the answer explanations for the test questions you answered incorrectly.

THE REA STUDY CENTER
The best way to personalize your study plan and focus on your weaknesses is to get feedback on what you know and what you don't know. At the online REA Study Center, you can access two types of assessment: a diagnostic exam and full-length practice exams. Each of these tools provides true-to-format questions and delivers a detailed score report that follows the topics set by the College Board.

Diagnostic Exam
Before you begin your review with the book, take the online diagnostic exam. Use your score report to help evaluate your overall understanding of the subject, so you can focus your study on the topics where you need the most review.

Full-Length Practice Exams
These practice tests give you the most complete picture of your strengths and weaknesses. After you've finished reviewing with the book, test what you've learned by taking the first of the two online practice exams. Review your score report, then go back and study any topics you missed. Take the second practice test to ensure you have mastered the material and are ready for test day.
If you're studying and don't have Internet access, you can take the printed tests in the book. These are the same practice tests offered at the REA Study Center, but without the added benefits of timed testing conditions and diagnostic score reports. Because the actual exam is computer-based, we recommend
you take at least one practice test online to simulate test-day conditions.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE EXAM
The CLEP College Algebra exam consists of approximately 60 multiple-choice questions, each with five possible answer choices, to be answered in 90 minutes.

The exam covers the material one would find in a one-semester college-level algebra course. Test takers can expect to encounter roughly a 50/50 split between routine and non-routine problems. Routine problems are those where students are asked to perform a specific mathematical task while non-routine problems requires students to decide what mathematical concepts they need to solve the problem. While you will be able to avail yourself of an online scientific calculator (non-graphing, non-programmable) during the exam, none of the questions you will be asked will require its use.
The approximate breakdown of topics on the CLEP College Algebra exam is as follows:
25% Algebraic Operations
. Factoring and expanding polynomials
. Operations with algebraic expressions
. Operations with exponents
. Properties of logarithms

25% Equations and Inequalities
. Linear equations and inequalities
. Quadratic equations and inequalities
. Absolute value equations and inequalities
. Systems of equations and inequalities
. Exponential and logarithmic equations

30% Functions and Their Properties
. Definition and interpretation
. Representation/modeling (graphical, numerical, symbolic, and verbal representations of functions)
. Domain and range
. Algebra of functions
. Graphs and their properties (including intercepts, symmetry, and transformations)
. Inverse functions

20% Number Systems and Operations
. Real numbers
. Complex numbers
. Sequences and series
. Factorials and Binomial Theorem
. Determinants of 2-by-2 matrices

ALL ABOUT THE CLEP PROGRAM
What is the CLEP?
CLEP is the most widely accepted credit-by-examination program in North America. CLEP exams are available in 33 subjects and test the material commonly required in an introductory-level college course. Examinees can earn from three to twelve credits at more than 2,900 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. For a complete list of the CLEP subject examinations offered, visit the College Board website: www.collegeboard.org/clep.

Who takes CLEP exams?
CLEP exams are typically taken by people who have acquired knowledge outside the classroom and who wish to bypass certain college courses and earn college credit. The CLEP program is designed to reward examinees for learning.no matter where or how that knowledge was acquired.

Although most CLEP examinees are adults returning to college, many graduating high school seniors, enrolled college students, military personnel, veterans, and international students take CLEP exams to earn college credit or to demonstrate their ability to perform at the college level. There are no prerequisites, such as age or educational status, for taking CLEP examinations. However, because policies on granting credits vary among colleges, you should contact the particular institution from which you wish to receive CLEP credit.

Who administers the exam?
CLEP exams are developed by the College Board, administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), and involve the assistance of educators from throughout the United States. The test development process is designed and implemented to ensure that the content and difficulty level of the test are
appropriate.

When and where is the exam given?
CLEP exams are administered year-round at more than 1,200 test centers in the United States and can be arranged for candidates abroad on request. To find the test center nearest you and to register for the exam, contact the CLEP Program:
CLEP Services
P.O. Box 6600
Princeton, NJ 08541-6600
Phone: [phone] (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET)
Fax: [phone]
Website: www.collegeboard.org

CLEP exams migrating to iBT
To improve the testing experience for both institutions and test-takers, the College Board's CLEP Program is transitioning its 33 exams from the eCBT platform to an Internet-based testing (iBT) platform. By spring 2014, all CLEP test-takers will be able to register for exams and manage their personal account information through the My Account feature on the CLEP website. This new
feature simplifies the registration process and automatically downloads all pertinent information about the test session from My Account, making for a more streamlined check-in.

OPTIONS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANS
CLEP exams are available free of charge to eligible military personnel and eligible civilian employees. All the CLEP exams are available at test centers on college campuses and military bases. Contact your Educational Services Officer or Navy College Education Specialist for more information. Visit the DANTES or College Board websites for details about CLEP opportunities for military personnel.
Eligible U.S. veterans can claim reimbursement for CLEP exams and administration fees pursuant to provisions of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004. For details on eligibility and submitting a claim for reimbursement, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website at www.gibill.va.gov.

CLEP can be used in conjunction with the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which applies to veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation. Because the GI Bill provides tuition for up to 36 months, earning college credits with CLEP exams expedites academic progress and degree completion
within the funded timeframe.

SSD ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIES
Many test candidates qualify for extra time to take the CLEP exams, but you must make these arrangements in advance. For information, contact:

College Board Services for Students with Disabilities
P.O. Box 8060
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864-0060
Phone: [phone] (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET)
Fax: [phone]
TTY: [phone]
Website: http://student.collegeboard.org/services-for-students-with-disabilities
E-mail: [e-mail]

Table of Contents

About Our Author
A Note from Our Author
About Research & Education Association
Acknowledgments

Chapter 1
Passing the CLEP College Algebra Exam
Getting Started
The REA Study Center
An Overview of the Exam
All About the CLEP Program
Options for Military Personnel and Veterans
Ssd Accommodations for Candidates with Disabilities
6-Week Study Plan
In the Days Leading up to the Exam
The Day of the Exam
Test-Taking Tips
Online Diagnostic Test................................www.rea.com/studycenterChapter 2
Review of Math Essentials
Sets
Operations with Signed Numbers
Powers and Roots
Order of Operations
Operations with Fractions
Scientific Notation

Chapter 3
Algebraic Operations
Operations with Algebraic Expressions
Operations with Exponents
Expanding and Factoring Polynomials
Operations with Rational Expressions
Solving Linear Equations and Inequalities

Chapter 4
Functions and Their Properties
Relations and Graphs
Function Definition and Interpretation
Linear Functions
Graphs of Common Functions
Transformation of Graphs
Polynomial Graphs
Inverse Functions

Chapter 5
Equations and Inequalities
Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities
Quadratic Equations and Inequalities
Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities
Exponential Functions and Logarithmic Equations

Chapter 6
Number Systems and Operations
Real Numbers
Complex Numbers
Sequences and Series
Factorials and the Binomial Theorem
Matrices

Chapter 7
Attacking the CLEP College Algebra Exam
Classifying CLEP Problems
Sample Problems
Formulas You Must Know
When You See the Words
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Review of Test-Taking Tips

Practice Test 1 (also available online at www.rea.com/studycenter)
Answer Key
Detailed Explanations of Answers
Practice Test 2 (also available online at www.rea.com/studycenter)
Answer Key
Detailed Explanations of Answers
Answer Sheets

Glossary
Index