MATH 123

Elementary Algebra


5.0 hours lecture per week.
Associate Degree Applicable.
Prerequisite: MATH 007 or equivalent with a grade of C or better.

Presents a first course in algebra for the student without any algebraic background. Topics include solving linear equations and inequalities, solving quadratic equations by factoring, polynomial expressions, factoring, graphing linear equations and inequalities in the variables, solving systems of two linear equations and radical expressions and equations.


Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, the student will be able to:
 1. Simplify the following:
        ·    polynomial expressions
        ·    radical expressions
        ·    exponential expressions
 2. Solve the following:
        ·    linear:
                 ·    equations
                 ·    inequalities
        ·    quadratic equations:
                 ·    by factoring
                 ·    by quadratic formula
        ·    radical equations
 3. Analyze two variable linear equations and inequalities:
        ·    find the slope of a line:
                 ·    given two points
                 ·    given a graph
        ·    write the equation of a line:
                 ·    given two points
                 ·    for parallel lines
                 ·    for perpendicular lines
        ·    graph a linear equation
        ·    graph a linear inequality
 4. Factor polynomials using:
        ·    greatest common factor
        ·    grouping
        ·    trinomial techniques:
                 ·    leading coefficient of one
                 ·    leading coefficient other than one
        ·    binomial techniques:
                 ·    difference of squares
                 ·    sum and difference of cubes
 5. Solve systems of equations using the following methods:
        ·    the addition method
        ·    substitution
        ·    graphically
 6. Solve applications of:
        ·    linear equations
        ·    linear inequalities
        ·    quadratic equations
        ·    systems of equations