Math 101 is for students who need to improve their algebraic skills before taking a higher level course such as Math 151, 160, or 161. The course focuses on algebraic topics needed for success in college mathematics and its applications. It includes the real number system, linear equations and inequalities, word problems, polynomials and factoring, rational algebraic expressions, exponents and radicals, quadratic equations, irrational equations, graphcs of equations, systems of equations, and logarithmic and exponential functions. (3 credits)
High School Algebra I and II and Geometry, or Math Placement Testing before registration.
The course outline refers to the current textbook (Algebra for College Students (3rd edition) by Charles McKeague). If the textbook changes, the corresponding topics in the new textbook will be covered.
| Topic | Section |
|---|---|
| Exponents and scientific notation | 1.4 |
| Polynomials: Sums, differences, and products | 1.5 |
| Factoring | 1.6 |
| Special factoring | 1.7 |
| Linear and quadratic equations in one variable | 2.1 |
| Applications | 2.3 |
| Linear inequalities in one variable | 2.4 |
| Equations with absolute value | 2.5 |
| Inequalities involving absolute value | 2.6 |
| Paired data and the rectangular coordinate system | 3.1 |
| The slope of a line | 3.2 |
| The equation of a line | 3.3 |
| Introduction to functions | 3.5 |
| Function notation | 3.6 |
| Variation | 3.7 |
| Basic properties and reducing to lowest terms | 4.1 |
| Division of polynomials | 4.2 |
| Multiplication and division with rational expressions | 4.3 |
| Addition and subtraction with rational expressions | 4.4 |
| Complex fractions | 4.5 |
| Equations involving rational expressions | 4.6 |
| Applications | 4.7 |
| Rational exponents | 5.1 |
| More expressions involving rational exponents | 5.2 |
| Simplified form for radicals | 5.3 |
| Addition and subtraction with radical expressions | 5.4 |
| Multiplication and division with radical expressions | 5.5 |
| Equations with radicals | 5.6 |
| Complex numbers | 5.7 |
| Completing the square | 6.1 |
| The quadratic formula | 6.2 |
| Additional items involving solutions to equations | 6.3 |
| Equations that are quadratic in form | 6.4 |
| Graphing parabolas | 6.5 |
| Quadratic inequalities | 6.6 |
| Systems of linear equations in two variables | 7.1 |
| Applications | 7.5 |
| Exponential functions and the inverse of a function | 8.1 |
| Logarithms are exponents | 8.2 |
| Properties of logarithms | 8.3 |
| Common logarithms and natural logarithms | 8.4 |
| Exponential equations and change of base | 8.5 |
Charles P. McKeague, Algebra for College Students (3rd edition). Fort Worth, Texas: Saunder College Publishing, 1998.
This course does not count for General Education Credit.
This syllabus was approved by the department on April 18, 2001.