MATH 102 - COURSE OUTLINE

Course Title:   MATH 102 – Intermediate Algebra Number of Units:   4 Total Hours per Semester/Term:   72 Prerequisite:   Grade of “C” or better in MATH 101 or qualifying scores on the Math Placement Test Advisory:   ENGL 190

Course Contents:

The following topics will be covered but not necessarily in the order listed.   1)       Quadratic Polynomials a)       Solving quadratic equations in one variable b)       Graphs of quadratic functions c)       Quadratic inequalities in one variable d)       Applications of quadratic equations and functions   2)       Linear systems a)       Systems of linear equations b)       Systems of linear inequalities c)       Applications of systems of linear equations and linear inequalities   3)       Exponential expressions a)       Exponential equations in one variable b)       Exponential functions c)       Applications of exponential equations and exponential functions   4)       Logarithmic expressions a)       Logarithmic equations in one variable b)       Logarithmic functions c)       Applications of logarithmic equations and logarithmic functions   5)       Radicals and Rational Exponents a)       Definition of radical expressions b)       Definition of rational exponents c)       Equations involving radicals d)       Equations involving rational exponents e)       Graphs of radical functions f)         Applications of radicals and rational exponents   6)       Rational expressions a)       Definition of rational expressions b)       Arithmetic of rational expressions c)       Division of a polynomial by a monomial d)       Solve equations involving rational expressions e)       Applications involving rational expressions

CATALOG DESCRIPTION: A second course in algebra at the developmental level.  This course prepares the student to take a baccalaureate level general education mathematics course.  Topics covered include equations and functions of the following types:  quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, rational, and radical.  The course also covers systems of linear equations and inequalities in two variables and quadratic inequalities in one variable.  Applied problems are encountered throughout the course.     COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:   1.                   graph the solution set for a linear equation in two variables 2.                   find  x  and  y  intercepts from an equation or a graph 3.                   compute the value of the slope algebraically by using  4.                   graph the solution set of a linear inequality in the plane 5.                   find solutions to systems of linear equations algebraically 6.                   find the equation of a line 7.                   solve applied problems involving linear equations 8.                   explain the definitions of the expressions  Am/n  and  9.                   solve equations involving radical expressions 10.               graph the functions  y=x1/n 11.               solve applied problems involving radical expressions 12.               add, subtract, multiply and divide simple rational expressions 13.               solve an equation involving rational expressions 14.               divide a polynomial by a binomial to produce a quotient and a remainder 15.               solve applied problems involving rational expressions 16.               use function notation 17.               sketch the graph of a function given a formula 18.               demonstrate the meaning of a one-to-one function 19.               find the inverse of a linear function 20.               factor a quadratic trinomial 21.               solve a quadratic equation in one variable by factoring 22.               solve a quadratic equation in one variable by using the quadratic formula 23.               sketch the graph of  y = ax2 + bx + c  finding the vertex and the x  and  y intercepts.  24.               recognize the standard form of a parabola. 25.               solve applied problems involving quadratic functions 26.               solve a quadratic inequality in one variable 27.               use the definition of a logarithm function 28.               use the definition of an exponential function 29.               use the property   A = C implies  Log(A) = Log(C)    to solve equations 30.               solve equations involving exponential expressions, e.g.   bp = n 31.               solve equations involving  logarithmic expressions, e.g.  p = logb(n) 32.               calculate the value of a logarithmic expression 33.               graph exponential and logarithmic functions 34.               solve applied problems involving exponential expressions 35.               solve applied problems involving logarithmic expressions