Reasonable Basic Algebra (RBA)

FreeMathTexts RBA Text In Preparation A2DC Development About Acknowlegments CopyLeft LaTeX Notes

RBA-Ancillaires RBA-Source RBA-Graphics RBA-Modify

Can you tell me in 10 words or less what RBA is all about?

Not quite but:

RBA is a complete package for a realistic BASIC ALGEBRA course.

OK! How about telling me a bit more?

RBA is: (Pick your choice)

An introduction that appeals to the reader's reason rather than to her/his ability to memorize.
A complete tool for teaching "developmental" students twice a week for 15 weeks.
A way for adults to learn some mathematics—more or less in the same spirit as mathematicians do.
A text, with a story-line, written to be read … and reread.
A presentation that pays pedantic attention to the linguistic difficulties the reader is likely to have in mathematics.
A political act to "enable people to get on better terms with reason—to learn to live with the truth." [Colin McGinn]
An anti "Show a Template Example, Drill and Test" manifesto.
An open source package written in LaTeX with lots of vector graphics.
A standalone version of part of From Arithmetic to Differential Calculus. (In Preparation.)
An instance of a model-theoretic approach to mathematical exposition.
A treatment that, while not rigorous in the usual mathematical sense, sins only by venial omission.
A work by a mathematician who, almost fifty years ago, got interested in reconciling "just plain folks" with mathematics.

All that? Can you go into some detail?

You can download the Preface

All textbooks authors claim theirs is unique. How is this one really different?

See by yourself. You can download the chapters individually:

Part I. - ELEMENTS OF ARITHMETIC

❖   Chapter 1 - Counting Number-phrases
❖   Chapter 2 - Comparisons: Equalities and Inequalities
❖   Chapter 3 - Addition
❖   Chapter 4 - Subtraction
❖   Chapter 5 - Signed number-phrases
❖   Chapter 6 - Co-multiplication, Values

Part II. - INEQUATIONS AND EQUATIONS PROBLEMS

❖   Chapter 7 - Basic Problems 1 (Counting Numerators)
❖   Chapter 8 - Basic Problems 2 (Decimal Numerators)
❖   Chapter 9 - Translation & Dilation Problems
❖   Chapter 10 - Affine Problems
❖   Chapter 11 - Double Basic Problems
❖   Chapter 12 - Double Affine Problems

Part III. - LAURENT POLYNOMIAL ALGEBRA

❖   Chapter 13 - Repeated Multiplications and Divisions
❖   Chapter 14 - Laurent Monomials
❖   Chapter 15 - Polynomials 1: Addition and Subtraction
❖   Chapter 16 - Polynomials 2: Multiplication
❖   Chapter 17 - Polynomials 3: Powers of x₀+h
❖   Chapter 18 - Polynomials 4: Division in Descending/Ascending Order

❖ Epilogue - Functions

or you can download

❖ RBA-Complete Text.pdf (18.4MB)

or, if you prefer,

❖ RBA-Complete Text.pdf.sitx* (4.1MB)

*You can download the free Stuffit Expander

Surely, though, you don't expect me to write the "ancillary" stuff?

RBA comes as a ready-to-use package that, in addition to the Text, includes RBA ancillaries

Any comment, reaction, etc are more than welcome.

RBA-Ancillaires RBA-Source RBA-Graphics RBA-Modify

FreeMathTexts RBA Text In Preparation A2DC Development About Acknowlegments CopyLeft LaTeX Notes

Page Updated February 27, 2008