Algebra: Form and Function, 2nd Edition offers a fresh approach to
algebra that focuses on teaching readers how to truly understand the
principles, rather than viewing them merely as tools for other forms of
mathematics. Meant for a College Algebra course, Algebra: Form and
Function, 2nd Edition is an introduction to one of the fundamental
aspects of modern society. Algebraic equations describe the laws of
science, the principles of engineering, and the rules of business. The
power of algebra lies in the efficient symbolic representation of
complex ideas, which also presents the main difficulty in learning it.
Most students rely on surface knowledge of algebraic manipulations
without understanding the underlying structure of algebra that allows
them to see patterns and apply it to multiple situations; McCallum
focuses on the structure from the start.