Offering comprehensive treatment of selected topics in finite mathematics and calculus, the fourth edition of this text provides an informal, non-intimidating presentation of the mathematical principles, techniques, and applications most useful to students in business, economics, and the life and social sciences. Oriented towards the needs of the student, the text retains such pedagogical features as "Algebra Flashbacks", "Notes to the Student", "Points for Thought or Discussion", and an extensive array of problems and applications to support the learning process. In the new edition a new chapter entitled "Some Preliminaries" provides a smooth transition from algebra to applied mathematics, and a new chapter on exponentials and logarithms has been added. Actual data from real applications has been included to allow students to see the connection between mathematics and the world around them. There is a new design to provide visual reinforcement, more preliminary material, new motivational scenarios, an increased orientation towards using the computer as a tool for performing mathematical analysis and increased emphasis on the nature of estimation in mathematics. Also available to accompany this text are an "Instructor's Manual" (ISBN 0-07-008903-5), a "Student Solutions Manual" (ISBN 0-07-008904-3) and a "Printed Test Bank" (ISBN 0-07-008905-1).