I. General Information
1. Course Title:
Intermediate Algebra
2. Course Prefix & Number:
MATH 0820
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 4
Lecture Hours: 4
4. Course Description:
This course will review many introductory algebra topics as well as introduce more advanced topics in algebra. Topics taught in this course include: linear equations and inequalities, graphing equations and inequalities, writing equations of lines, functions, systems of equations, exponents, polynomials, factoring, rational expressions and equations, complex numbers, radicals, and quadratic functions. Additional topics may also be covered.
5. Placement Tests Required:
| Accuplacer (specify test): |
Arithmetic |
Score: |
80 |
| Other (specify test): |
Elementary Algebra |
Score: |
52
|
6. Prerequisite Courses:
MATH 0820 - Intermediate Algebra
Applies to all requirements
Accuplacer Arithmetic score of 80 or higher, or Elementary Algebra score of 52 or higher, or MATH 0800
9. Co-requisite Courses:
MATH 0820 - Intermediate Algebra
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
North Hennepin Community College, Math 0980 Pre-College Algebra, 5 credits
Northland Community and Technical College, Math 0094 Pre-College Algebra, 4 credits
Saint Cloud Technical and Community College, Math 0475 Principles of Intermediate Algebra, 4 credits
Minnesota State University, Mankato, Math 098 Intermediate Algebra, 4 credits
III. Course Purpose
1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):
3. Other - If this course does NOT meet criteria for #1 or #2 above, it may be used for the purpose(s) selected below:
Developmental Course
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
| College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
| Analyze and follow a sequence of operations |
Demonstrate each required step in the algebraic process of solving equations. |
| Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations |
Use algebraic equations to apply abstract ideas to concrete situations. |
| Utilize appropriate technology |
Use a graphing calculator to solve equations and systems of equations. |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
- Simplify algebraic expressions;
- Solve linear equations and inequalities;
- Graph linear equations and inequalities in two variables;
- Write equations of lines;
- Determine if a relation is a function;
- Evaluate functions using function notation;
- Solve application problems using linear functions;
- Solve systems of equations;
- Solve application problems using systems of equations;
- Simplify expressions involving exponents;
- Perform operations on polynomials;
- Factor polynomials;
- Solve higher degree polynomial equations by factoring;
- Simplify and perform operations with rational expressions;
- Simplify and perform operations with radicals;
- Perform operations with complex numbers; and
- Solve quadratic equations using the quadratic formula.
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
- Equations in one variable
- Simplify algebraic expressions by applying the distributive property and combining like terms
- Solve linear equations
- Solve application problems using linear equations
- Solve problems using literal equations
- Inequalities in one variable
- Solve simple and compound inequalities
- Graph the solution set to an inequality on a number line
- State the solution set to an inequality using interval notation
- Solve application problems using inequalities
- Equations in two variables
- Graph linear equations by finding intercepts or by making a table
- Graph horizontal and vertical lines
- Graph linear equations using the slope and y-intercept
- Determine the slope of a line from the graph, the equation, or two points on the line
- Find the equation of a line
- Determine if two lines are parallel or perpendicular
- Solve application problems that can be modeled with linear equations in two variables
- Inequalities in two variables
- Graph linear inequalities in two variables
- Systems of linear equations
- Solve systems of linear equations in two variables by graphing
- Solve systems of linear equations in two variables by addition
- Solve systems of linear equations in two variables by substitution
- Solve systems of linear equations in two variables using a graphing calculator
- Solve application problems using a system of equations
- Functions
- Define a relation and function
- Determine if a relation is a function given a set of ordered pairs, a graph, or an equation
- State the domain and range of relations and functions
- Identify the graphs of basic functions
- Use function notation
- Exponents and polynomials
- Simplify numeric and algebraic expressions by applying the properties and rules for integer exponents
- Add, subtract, multiply, and divide polynomials
- Divide polynomials using synthetic division
- Evaluate polynomial functions using synthetic division and the Remainder Theorem
- Factoring polynomials
- Factor out a greatest common factor
- Factor by grouping
- Factor binomials and trinomials
- Factor polynomials completely using multiple methods of factoring
- Solve quadratic equations by factoring
- Solve higher-degree polynomial equations by factoring
- Rational expressions and rational functions
- Simplify rational expressions using factoring techniques
- Add and subtract rational expressions that contain a common denominator
- Multiply and divide rational expressions
- Solve equations involving rational expressions
- Rational exponents and roots
- Simplify expressions involving rational exponents
- Apply properties of radicals
- Write radical expressions in simplest form
- Solve basic radical equations
- Complex numbers
- Add, subtract, and multiply complex numbers
- Quadratic functions
- Solve quadratic equations by factoring
- Solve quadratic equations using the quadratic formula
- Solve application problems that can be modeled by quadratic equations
- Graph a quadratic equation