College Algebra

Courses Description:

This course is a functional approach to algebra that incorporates
the use of technology. Emphasis will be placed on the study of functions, and their
graphs, inequalities, and linear, quadratic, piece-wise defined, polynomial, rational,
exponential and logarithmic functions. Appropriate applications will be included

Text: College Algebra by Lial, Hornsby and Schneider (Addison/Wesley).

NOTE: Students can either use the 10th edition available from the publisher OR the
West Georgia edition available from the bookstore.

Learning Outcomes: Students should be able to demonstrate:

 1. An understanding of the equations of circles and lines
 2. An understanding of functions and how to graph functions
 3. An understanding of operations on functions including function composition
 4. An understanding of polynomial graphs, including intercepts and end -behavior
 5. An understanding of how to find the zeros of a polynomial and how to factor polynomials
 6. An understanding of inverse functions and how to find them graphically and algebraically
 7. An understanding of the properties of exponential and logarithmic equations
 8. An understanding of how to solve exponential and logarithmic equations
 9. An understanding of how to solve a system of equations

SECTION HOURS
R. Review of Basic Concepts  
R.5 Rational Expressions 1
R.6 Rational Exponents 1
R.7 Radical Expressions. 1
1. Equations and Inequalities  
1.1 Linear Equations . 1
1.2 Applications and Modeling with Linear Equations 1
1.3 Complex Numbers . 1
1.4 Quadratic Equations. 1
1.5 Applications and Modeling with Quadratic Equations. 1
1.6 Other Types of Equations. 1
1.7 Inequalities 1
1.8 Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities. 1
2. Graphs and Functions.  
2.1 Rectangular Coordinates and Graphs 1
2.2 Circles 1
2.3 Functions. 2
2.4 Linear Functions. 1
2.5 Equations of Lines; Curve Fitting . 1
2.6 Graphs of Basic Functions. ** 0.5
2.7 Graphing Techniques. ** 0.5
2.8 Function Operations and Composition. 1
3. Polynomial and Rational Functions.  
3.1 Quadratic Functions and Models. 1
3.2 Synthetic Division . 1
3.3 Zeros of Polynomial Functions. 1
3.4 Polynomial Functions: Graphs, Applications, and Models. 1
3.6 Variation. 1
4. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions.  
4.1 Inverse Functions. 1
4.2 Exponential Functions. 1
4.3 Logarithmic Functions. 1
4.4 Evaluating Logarithms and the Change -of-Base Theorem. 1
4.5 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations. 1.5
4.6 Applications and Models of Exponential Growth and Decay. 1.5
5. Systems and Matrices.  
5.1 Systems of Linear Equations. 1.5
5.5 Nonlinear Systems of Equations. 1
5.6 Systems of Inequalities and Linear Programming. 1.5

** Students should be able to graph functions using a graphing calculator

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