MATH130: College Algebra

Course Description

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

Grading Procedure

Attendance 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).