Basic College Algebra
|L1 Real Numbers and Algebra Review (R.1, R.2) Due date: 01/12|
|1. Classify the numbers. Identify the
sets of natural, integer, rational, irrational,
and real numbers. Perform operations on the set of real
numbers. Work with properties of real numbers. Evaluate numerical
expressions using the order of operations.
2. Compute absolute value of a number or expression. Find the distance
between two numbers on the number line.
3. State laws of exponents. Simplify expressions by using the laws of
4. Define the square roots. Evaluate the principal square root. Convert
between scientific and decimal notation. Perform operations in scientific
and decimal notations.
|L2 Polynomials; Factoring Polynomials (R.4, R.5) Due date: 01/12|
|5. Recognize monomials. Recognize
6. Perform operations of addition, subtraction, and multiplication on
polynomials. Use the special product formulas for polynomial
expansion and factoring.
7. Factor out the common factor. Factor polynomials by grouping.
Define prime (irreducible) polynomials. Factor polynomials over the
various sets of numbers: integer, rational or real numbers.
8. Factor quadratic trinomials by using FOIL “in reverse”. Use
method of substitution for factoring polynomials.
|L3 Polynomial Division; Synthetic Division; Rational Expressions (R.4, R.6, R.7) Due date: 01/15|
|9. Divide polynomials by using long
division. Perform synthetic
division where it is appropriate.
10. Define a rational expression and its domain. Reduce a rational
expression to lowest terms .
11. Multiply, divide, add, and subtract rational expressions. Use the
least common multiple method for adding or subtracting rational
12. Simplify complex rational expressions (complex fractions).
|L4 nth Roots; Rational Exponents (R.8) Due date: 01/20|
|13. Define the principle nth root of
a real number. Evaluate radical
14. Simplify radicals. Rationalize the denominators . Add and subtract
radical expressions .
15. Define rational exponents. Simplify expressions with radicals
and/or rational exponents.
|L5 Linear Equations and Applications (1.1, 1.7) Due date: 01/22|
|16. Give the definition of an
equation in one variable and its solution
set. Describe the operations which, when performed on an
equation, lead to an equivalent equation.
17. Solve linear equations and the equations that lead to linear
equations. Solve an equation for the indicated variable.
18. Describe the steps for solving applied problems. Use
mathematical modeling to solve applied problems on uniform
motion, interest, mixture, constant rate job, and other applications.
|L6 Quadratic Equations and Applications (1.2, 1.7) Due date: 01/26|
|19. Solve quadratic equations by
factoring, using the square root
method, completing the square.
20. Solve quadratic equations by using the quadratic formula. Use
the discriminant to classify the types of solutions of a quadratic
equation. Use the quadratic formula for factoring.
21. Solve applied problems involving quadratic equations.
|L7 Complex Numbers; Quadratic Equations in the Complex Number System (1.3) Due date: 01/29|
|22. Define the complex numbers.
Equate, add, subtract, multiply, and
divide complex numbers. Simplify powers of i.
23. Define the principal square root of a negative number . Simplify
expressions involving roots of negative numbers.
24. Use the quadratic formula for the equations with a negative
discriminant. Solve quadratic equations in the complex number
25. Solve the equations that lead to the quadratic equations.
|L8 Radical Equations;
Equations Quadratic in Form; Factorable Equations;
Equations Involving Absolute Value (1.3, 1.4, 1.6) Due date: 02/05
|26. Discuss the steps in solving
equations with radical and rational
exponents. Be aware of possible existence of extraneous solutions.
Solve the equations with radicals and rational exponents.
27. Identify and solve the equations quadratic in form. Solve
28. Solve factorable equations in the complex number system.
29. Recall the definition of the absolute value. Solve the equations
involving absolute value.
|L9 Solving Inequalities; Inequalities Involving Absolute Value (1.5, 1.6) Due date: 02/09|
|30. Use interval notation. Graph
31. State properties of inequalities. Use these properties to solve
linear inequalities and inequalities that lead to the linear
inequalities. Solve combined inequalities .
32. Solve inequalities involving absolute value.
33. Solve applied problems involving inequalities.
|L10 Rectangular Coordinates; Graphs of Equations (2.1, 2.2) Due date: 02/12|
|34. Plot points in the rectangular
coordinate system. Compute the
distance between two points in the coordinate plane. Find the
coordinates of the midpoint of a line segment.
35. Define an equation in two variables and its graph. Graph some
basic equations by plotting points.
36. Find the intercepts of the graph of an equation.
37. Define the types of symmetry with respect to the x‐axis, the y‐
axis, and the origin. Test an equation for symmetry
|L11 Circles; Lines (2.4, 2.3) Due date: 02/16|
|38. Write equations of a circle in
various forms. Find the center and
radius of a circle from the given equation. Graph a circle.
39. Define and interpret the slope of a nonvertical line. Find the
slope of a nonvertical line. Graph lines given the point and the
slope. Consider vertical lines for which the slope is undefined.
Analyze the graph of a line using the slope. Graph a line.
40. Consider the various forms of the equations of lines such as the
point‐slope, slope‐intercept, and general forms.
|L12 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines; Relations; Functions (2.3, 3.1) Due date: 02/19|
|41. Give criteria for parallel and
perpendicular lines. Find equations
of parallel and perpendicular lines.
42. Give the definition of a relation. Distinguish functions from
general relations. Determine whether a relation represents a
43. Find values of a function. Simplify the difference quotient.
Define the domain and range of a function.
44. Perform the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication,
and division on two functions. Find the domain of the sum,
difference, product or quotient of two functions.
|L13 Graph of a
Function; Properties of Functions; Library of Functions;
Piecewise‐defined Functions (3.2, 3.3, 3.4) Due date: 02/23
|45. Identify the graph of a function.
Obtain information from or
about the graph of a function.
46. Determine even and odd functions. Identify even and odd
functions from the equation.
47. Use the graph to determine the intervals on which a function is
increasing, decreasing or constant. Describe local maxima and
minima. Use the graph to locate local maxima and minima.
48. Find the average rate of change of a function. Relate the average
rate of change to the slope of the secant line.
49. Graph the functions listed in the Library of Functions. Graph
|L14 Graphing Techniques: Transformations; Mathematical Models (3.5, 3.6) Due date: 02/26|
|50. Graph functions using vertical
and horizontal shifts. Graph
functions using compressions and stretches. Graph functions using
reflections about the x‐axis and the y‐axis.
51. Consider mathematical models of real‐world problems: build and analyze functions. Work with direct, inverse, joint, and combined variations.
|L14a Linear Functions and Models; Quadratic Functions and Models (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4) Due date: 03/02|
|52. Define linear functions. Graph
linear functions. Use the average
rate of change to identify linear functions. Determine whether
a linear function is increasing, decreasing or constant.
53. Consider models involving linear functions. Build linear functions
from data: draw and interpret scatter diagram, distinguish between
linear and nonlinear relations, use a graphing utility to find the line
of best fit.
54. Graph a quadratic function by using transformations. Identify the
vertex and the axis of symmetry of a quadratic function. Graph a
quadratic function using its vertex, axis, and intercepts.
55. Find the maximum and minimum values of quadratic functions.
Solve applied problems involving quadratic functions. Use a
graphing utility to find the quadratic function of best fit.
|L15 Polynomial Functions; Polynomial Inequalities (5.1, 5.4) Due date: 03/16|
|56. Identify a polynomial function
and its degree. Investigate the
properties and the end behavior of a power function. Graph
polynomial functions using transformations.
57. Identify zeros of a polynomial function and their multiplicities.
Analyze the behavior near a real zero. Define the turning points.
Relate the number of turning points of a polynomial to its degree.
58. Analyze the end behavior of a polynomial function.
59. Graph polynomial functions. Find an equation of a polynomial
function if the graph is given.
60. Analyze the graph of a polynomial function. Use a graphing
utility to analyze the graph of a polynomial function.
61. Solve polynomial inequalities.
|L16 Rational Functions (5.2) Due date: 03/19|
|62. Identify a rational function and
find its domain. Define the real
zeros of a rational function.
63. Define vertical asymptotes and holes of a rational function. Find
the vertical asymptotes and the holes, if any.
64. Define horizontal and oblique asymptotes of a rational function.
Find the horizontal or oblique asymptote of a rational function.
|L17 Analyzing Graphs of Rational Functions; Rational Inequalities (5.3, 5.4) Due date: 03/23|
|65. Graph rational functions.
Construct a rational function from the
66. Solve applied problems involving rational functions.
67. Solve rational inequalities.
|L18 Systems of Linear
Equations: Substitution and Elimination; Systems of
Nonlinear Equations (8.1, 8.6) Due date: 03/26
|68. Identify systems of two equations
in two variables. Define the
solution set of the system of equations and discuss its geometrical
meaning. Discuss the possible solution sets of the system of two
linear equations in two variables.
69. Solve systems of two linear equations in two variables by
substitution and elimination.
70. Solve applied problems by using systems of two linear equations
in two variables.
71. Solve systems of nonlinear equations by substitution or
elimination. Graph the equations of the system and locate
the system’s solutions. Solve applied problems by using systems of two
nonlinear equations in two variables.
|L19 Zeros of a Polynomial Function; Fundamental Theorem of Algebra (5.5, 5.6) Due date: 03/30|
|72. State the division algorithm for
polynomials. Use the Remainder
and Factor Theorems.
73. State the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra. Prove the Number
of Zeros Theorem. Factor polynomials by using its zeros. State the
Conjugate Pairs Theorem.
74. Find all zeros of a polynomial function when one zero is given.
Find a polynomial with specified zeros.
75. Use the Theorem for Bounds on Zeros. (Omit Descartes’ Rule of
Signs , Rational Zeros Theorem). Use the Intermediate Value Theorem.
|L20 Composite Functions; One‐to‐one Functions (6.1, 6.2) Due date: 04/02|
|76. Define a composite function.
Compute values of composite
functions. Find the expression for a composite function and its
77. Find the components of a composite function. Consider
applications involving compositions of two functions.
78. Introduce the inverse relation. Discuss when the inverse relation
of a function is a function and relate it to the one‐to‐one functions.
79. Determine whether a function is one‐to‐one.
|L21 Inverse Functions (6.2) Due date: 04/06|
|80. Define the inverse of a given
function. Determine whether two
functions are inverses of each other.
81. Apply the cancellation rules for the inverse functions. State the
relation between the domain and range of the function and its
inverse. Obtain the graph of the inverse function from the graph of
82. Find the inverse of a one‐to‐one function which is defined by an
equation. Find the inverse of a domain‐restricted function.
|L22 Exponential Functions (6.3) Due date: 04/09|
|83. Define the exponential function.
Compare exponential and linear
84. Graph exponential functions. Analyze the properties of
85. Solve exponential equations using the one‐to‐one property of
the exponential function.
86. Define number e. Graph the exponential function with the base
|L23 Logarithmic Functions; Applications of Logarithms (6.4) Due date: 04/13|
|87. Define the logarithmic function.
State the cancellation rules for
logarithms and exponents. Convert between logarithmic and
exponential expressions. Solve logarithmic and exponential
equations by converting from one form to another.
88. Graph the logarithmic function. Analyze the properties of the
logarithmic function knowing the properties of the exponential
89. Give a definition of . Evaluate logarithms with and without a
90. Define the natural logarithmic function. Graph natural
91. Consider applications of logarithms.
|L24 Properties of Logarithms; Logarithmic and Exponential Equations (6.5, 6.6) Due date: 04/20|
|92. State the properties of
logarithms. Simplify expressions by using
the properties of logarithms. Use the change‐of‐base formula.
93. Solve logarithmic equations.
94. Solve exponential equations.
|L25 Applications of
Exponential Function; Logistic Models;
Building Models from Data (6.7, 6.8, 6.9) Due date: 04/22
|95. State the compound interest
formula. Consider continuous
96. Determine the present and the future value of a lump sum of
97. Determine the rate of interest and time required to obtain a
certain amount of money.
98. Find equations describing the quantities that obey the law of
uninhibited growth and decay. Find the half‐life of a radioactive
99. Use logistic models.
100. Use a graphing utility to fit exponential, logarithmic, and logistic
functions to data
|L26 Mathematical Induction; the Binomial Theorem (9.4, 9.5) For extra credit. Due date: 04/22|
|101. Prove statements using method of
102. Evaluate .
103. State the Binomial Theorem. Expand binomials. Evaluate a specified
coefficient in a binomial expansion.
104. Describe the Pascal’s triangle. Use the Pascal’s triangle to write
the binomial expansions which relate to small natural numbers n.