Course Description: “A college level algebra course
for students not
majoring in mathematics, engineering, or the physical sciences. Topics
included are the real number system , algebraic, exponential, logarithmic,
and polynomial functions; rational polynomials, systems of equations, and
appropriate applications.”
Prerequisite: Appropriate score on placement test, or MAT 032.
Required Course Materials:
Textbook: College Algebra, Fourth Edition, by Robert Blitzer. Prentice-
Hall, Inc. ISBN 013-219141-5 is recommended.
Calculator: Texas Instruments TI-83+ is recommended.
Computer: You need a reliable computer.
Software: MS Word with equation editor installed.
Internet Access: Working through the material for this course will
require
spending a significant amount of time online, so you will need Internet
access from your computer at home. There are many Internet Service
Providers to choose from. Chesapeake College does not provide dialup
access to the Internet.
Disability: Any student in this course who has a disability that may
prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should
contact Judy Gordon in Student Services (ext. 5805). Ms. Gordon can
discuss the possibility of an accommodations plan with you to insure full
participation and achievement of your educational goals.
Student Services: For help with or information about advising,
registration, career planning, financial aid, or the many other aspects
of your life as a student at Chesapeake College.
Chapter One: Equations and Inequalities
OBJECTIVES:
• Solve linear equations.
• Recognize identities, conditional equations, and inconsistent equations.
• Solve problems using formulas.
• Solve for a variable in a formula.
• Solve quadratic equations by factoring, by the square root method, by
completing the square,
by using the quadratic formula.
• Use the discriminant to determine the kind of solutions.
• Determine the most efficient method to use when solving a quadratic equation.
• Solve problems modeled by quadratic equations.
• Solve polynomial equations by factoring, solve radical equations ,
solve equations with rational exponents, solve equations that are
quadratic in form, and solve equations involving absolute value .
• Solve inequalities and graph the solution set .
• Perform operations with complex numbers and square root of
negative numbers.
• Graph equations in the rectangular coordinate system .
• Use a graph to determine intercepts .
Chapter Two: Functions and Graphs
OBJECTIVES:
• Recognize and use the forms of a line’s equation.
• Find slopes and equations of parallel and perpendicular lines.
• Find the distance between two points and the midpoint of a line segment.
• Use the general form and standard form of a circle ’s equation.
• Determine whether a relation is a function and whether an equation represents
a function.
• Find the domain of a function and evaluate a function.
• Obtain information about a function from its graph.
• Graph functions involving a transformation or a sequence of transformations.
• Form composite functions.
• Find the inverse of a function.
Chapter Three: Polynomial and Rational Functions
OBJECTIVES:
• Recognize characteristics of parabolas and graph parabolas.
• Use factoring to find zeros of polynomial functions and identify the
multiplicity of a zero.
• Understand the relationship between degree and turning points.
• Use long division and synthetic division to divide polynomials.
• Use the Rational Zero Theorem to find possible rational zeros.
• Find polynomials with given zeros.
• Identify vertical and horizontal asymptotes.
• Solve problems involving direct, inverse, and joint variation.
• Solve problems modeled by polynomial or rational inequalities.
Chapter Four: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
OBJECTIVES:
• Evaluate and graph exponential functions and logarithmic functions.
• Change from logarithmic to exponential form and exponential to
logarithmic form.
• Find the domain of a logarithmic function.
• Use properties of logarithms.
• Solve exponential and logarithmic equations.
• Solve applied problems involving exponential and logarithmic
equations.
• Model data with exponential and logarithmic functions.
Chapter Five: Systems of Equations and Inequalities
OBJECTIVES:
• Solve linear systems and nonlinear systems by substitution and by addition.
• Solve systems of equations in three variables.
• Find partial fraction decomposition of a rational expression .
• Graph system of inequalities.
• Solve problems involving systems of inequalities.
Chapter Six: Matrices and Determinants – (Optional as
time permits)
OBJECTIVES:
• Use matrices and Gaussian elimination and Gauss-Jordan
elimination to solve systems.
• Apply Gaussian elimination to systems without unique solutions
and with differing numbers of variables and equations.
• Add and subtract matrices.
• Perform scalar multiplication.
• Use inverses to solve matrix equations.
• Solve a linear system of equations in two variables and in three
variables using Cramer’ s rule .
