COURSE SYLLABUS
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Mathematics
Date: Fall, Winter,
Spring 2005-06
Course MATH - 120 Name: College Algebra
Credit hours: 4 Lecture hours/week: 4 Lab hours/week: 0
Instructor: Staff
Usual student level: Freshman
Course required of students in:
Course frequency per year: Offered fall, winter, spring
Average enrollment per year: 160-180
This course has a prerequisite: two years of high school algebra
This course is a prerequisite for: MATH 122 College Trigonometry,
MATH 154 Calculus for Life Science 1
MATH 156 Biostatistics 1
Catalogue Description:
The real number system, equations and inequalities, functions and their graphs, polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions. Not open for credit to students who have received a grade of C or higher in any calculus course.
Course Objectives:
To provide students with additional preparation in algebra prior to their enrollment in calculus or another required mathematics course.
Textbook: College Algebra with Trigonomtery Graphs and Models, 1/e, by Barnett, Ziegler, and Byleen, McGraw-Hill, 2005
Outline of content follows:
(see attached)
Course Outline
MATH - 120
Title: College Algebra
Chapter 1 Functions, Graphs, and Models
Using Graphing Utilities
Functions
Functions, Graphs, and Properties
Functions, Graphs, and Transformations
Operations on Functions; Composition
Inverse Functions
Chapter 2 Modeling with Linear and Quadratic Functions
Linear Functions
Linear Equations and Models
Quadratic Functions
Complex Numbers
Quadratic Equations and Models
Additional Equation Solving Techniques
Solving Inequalities
Chapter 3 Polynomial and Rational Functions
Polynomial Functions and Models
Real Zeros and Polynomial Inequalities
Complex Zeros and Rational Zeros of Polynomials
Rational Functions and Inequalities
Chapter 4 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Exponential Functions
Exponential Models (optional)
Logarithmic Functions
Logarithmic Models (optional)
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
Testing and Review
TOTAL 39 classes
Comments:
1. A steady pace must be maintained if all of the material in this syllabus is to be covered in one four credit course.
2. Appendix A of the text contains a review of elementary algebra. Although this material is prerequisite to the course, most of the students will need to review some of these topics. This review should be integrated into the course as needed. Be sure to avoid getting bogged down in review material.
3. Appropriate use of graphing calculators is encouraged. The textbook does a good job of integrating this technology. At a minimum the students should learn how to graph functions and equations and to approximate zeros of functions and solutions of equations with a graphing calculator.