College Algebra

Revised: November 2006

Course Description

Real number properties, solving equations, inequalities, functions, graphs, systems of equations. Prerequisite: Mathematics Placement Test or Math 100.

Objectives

   1. To present topics normally taught in an introductory college algebra course algebraically, numerically and graphically.
   2. To prepare students for topics taught in Math 145, Trigonometry, Math 146, Algebra and Analytic Geometry, or in Math 140,Introductory Calculus.

Text

Crauder, Bruce, Benny Evans, and Alan Noell, Functions and Change: A Modeling Approach to College Algebra, Second Edition, Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company, 2003.

Grading Procedure

Grading procedures and factors influencing course grade are left to the discretion of individual instructors, subject to general university policy.

Attendance Policy

Attendance policy is left to the discretion of individual instructors, subject to general university policy.

Course Outline

• Chapter 1: Functions (6 days)
        1.1 Functions given by formulas
        1.2 Functions given by tables
        1.3 Functions given by graphs
        1.4 Functions given by words
• Chapter 2: Graphical and Tabular Analysis (8 days)
        2.1 Tables and trends
        2.2 Graphs
        2.3 Solving Linear Equations
        2.4 Solving nonlinear equations
        2.5 Optimization
• Chapter 3: Straight Lines and Linear Functions (8 days)
        3.1 The geometry of lines
        3.2 Linear functions
        3.3 Modeling data with linear functions
        3.4 Linear regression
        3.5 Systems of equations
• Chapter 4: Exponential Functions (6 days)
        4.1 Exponential growth and decay
        4.2 Modeling exponential data
        4.3 Modeling nearly exponential data
        4.4 Logarithmic functions
• Miscellaneous Topics (remaining time)
        As time allows, the instruction may cover topics from Chapter 5 (A Survey of Other Common Functions) or Chapter 7 (Rates of Change).