just a few more Lial math ?

[ruth]

Can anyone tell me just a few things about Lial’s Basic College Math.

What is the “My-Math-Lab” that is included in some of the books, it seems to increase the price quite a bit.

What is in each portion of the program (student, teacher….), keeping in mind I’m math challenged but getting better!

From other posts I’ve read that BCM is considered a pre-algebra course, does this mean that I could skip Lial’s pre-algebra book altogether?

I’m planning on using this book for 8th grade student who is an average in math, but moves slowly.

Thankyou!
ruth

[Pamela H in Texas]

Hi Ruth.

Lial's BCM is a good pre-algebra course and if your student is ready, you do simply go into Algebra I afterwards. However, my student did extremely well with BCM but struggled with Algebra so we did another year of pre-algebra (dolciani--but I like Lial's better for pre-algebra) and then moved to Algebra I and he's doing beautifully. All students are really ready at different times. BTW, my student was younger than yours which also may have played a part.

I am using MyMathLab with my current math program (it's paid for by my school) and really like it. There are videos, similar problems they walk you through, they can walk you through the problem you're having an issue with, etc. However, I wouldn't likely buy it if I wasn't getting it free (or fairly cheap) unless we were just having MAJOR issues. My daughter never used it and was fine.

I hope these answers help a little bit.

[langfam]

Last year, for remedial work, I used some parts of Lial's BCM for my "average" 8th grader who hit a wall with Jacob's Algebra. It seemed to help him as this year he is doing well, so far, with Chalkdust Algebra I.

For my 7th grader though. BCM was too easy for him, so we're preferring Chalkdust's Prealgebra for him which moves faster.

HTHs