Elementary Mathematical Models:
An Accessible Development without Calculus, Second Edition

by Dan Kalman, Sacha Forgoston, and Albert Goetz

An Unusual Approach to General Education Mathematics.  Elementary Mathematical Models offers instructors an alternative to standard college algebra, quantitative literacy, and liberal arts mathematics courses. Presuming only a background of exposure to high school algebra, the text introduces students to the methodology of mathematical modeling, which plays a role in nearly all real applications of mathematics. A course based on this text would have as its primary goal preparing students to be competent consumers of mathematical modeling in their future studies. Such a course would also provide students with an understanding of the modeling process and a facility with much of the standard, non-trigonometric, content of college algebra and precalculus.

For more details about the goals of instruction and what the course covers, see the Preface  and Table of Contents.

Published by the American Mathematical Society.  See this page for details about course adoptions, examination or desk copies, and related matters.

book cover

Great Writing.  The lead author is known for mathematical exposition, with multiple MAA writing awards.  Here are some samples from the book:

Innovative Instructional Goals and Content  

A Wealth of Real World Examples and Exercises:  Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide, World Copper Production, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infections,  Page Views of a Justin Bieber Video, Cumulative iPod Sales,  Fuel Consumption Aboard a Communications Satellite, Laser Vision Correction, Repeated Medication Doses, Computer Network Connectivity, among others.   

Carefully Crafted Homework Exercises

Strong Technology Support

Support for Instructors.  Additional resources available through the AMS (and so inaccessible to students) include

A Beautiful Cover.  But don't judge the book on that basis!  The striking photograph of polar bears dramatizes the impact of shrinking sea ice.  Superimposed is a graph from one model for sea ice extent from an example in the text.