[MAT 105] Introduction to College Algebra

Introduction

Whether you are considering taking this class because you love math, because you need it as a prerequisite for some other course, or because you simply want to expand your field of knowledge, it is wonderful that you are considering enrolling in Introduction to College Algebra. As to be expected of a college class, you'll need to spend many hours of quality time working on assignments and participating in discussions with your classmates. This can be quite an enjoyable experience and your efforts will be amply rewarded with newly acquired knowledge and a feeling of accomplishment. This online algebra class will be nothing like the solitary correspondence courses of old. You are only a keyboard away from talking with your classmates and getting help from your instructor. If you sign up, plan to take advantage of all that this alternative medium has to offer. Remember that your instructor will be there to assist you along the way. Adventure awaits if you choose to enroll.

Description

The successful completion of the equivalent of one course in geometry is a prerequisite for all credit mathematics courses.

UW Colleges Catalog Course Description for MAT 105 Introduction to College Algebra - 3 credits. Emphasizes algebraic techniques with polynomials, fractional expressions, exponents and radicals, linear and quadratic equations, and inequalities. Introduction to functions, their graphs and analytic geometry. This course fulfills the UWC requirement an Elective (EL).

Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in Elementary Algebra or placement based on placement test score.

This class assumes you have already satisfactorily completed a course in Elementary Algebra or a year of high school algebra. If you have not passed a year of plane geometry in high school you must also successfully complete a geometry course before taking this course. The first lesson begins with a very brief review of the real numbers before quickly moving into the algebra topics. Students who have been away from algebra for some time or who feel at all apprehensive about this class may find it helpful to pick up a basic math refresher book from a library or local bookstore and work through the exercises the month before classes begin.

Most of the communication in an online course is through written work. This is a little more difficult in a math class because of the special notation needed. All students are required to use Microsoft Word's Equation Editor to type the appropriate math symbols so that the ideas are easily readable by everyone. Explanation and practice in this software will be given in the orientation and you will be expected to use it for submitted work from then on.

Proficiencies

Institutional proficiencies assigned to this course

Successful completion of this course will enhance students' ability to

• interpret and synthesize information and ideas;
• select and apply scientific and other appropriate methodologies;
• solve quantitative and mathematical problems;
• interpret graphs, tables, and diagrams.

Department-specific proficiencies assigned to this course

By completing this course, students will

• understand how the order of operations utilized in arithmetic extends to algebraic expressions;
• extend the rules of integer exponents to rational exponents and learn to apply these in simplifying algebraic expressions;
• formulate simple real world applications in one or more variables and solve them algebraically and/or graphically;
• explore various forms of linear equations, their graphs and the interpretation of their parameters;
• become familiar with a variety of factorization techniques and their use in solving equations involving polynomials, rational expressions and radicals;
• work in the rectangular/Cartesian coordinate system with linear equations and other equations;
• use the algebraic skills learned to solve real world applications problems;
• where appropriate, use scientific/graphing calculator to explore and answer various algebraic questions.

Requirements

Students must be able to use Equation Editor and Drawing (in Microsoft Word) to assist with correct mathematical notation on assignments.

Software

• Microsoft Word with Equation Editor.

  The most current edition of MS Office (containing MS Word and Word's Equation Editor and other valuable programs) is available to University of Wisconsin students at discounted prices through the Wisconsin Integrated Software Catalog.

• Also required: Shockwave/Flash, RealPlayer, QuickTime, MathXL Player and Test Gen plug-ins, Adobe Reader.

Hardware

• Some course work cannot be completed on a Mac. Students must have access to a PC for this course, and the PC must have a CD Player and speakers.

About the Instructors

• Khaled Hussein
  Assistant Professor, Mathematics
  BS, Al Najah National University
  MS, Southern Illinois University
  PhD, Southern Illinois University
  
  
• Tracey Starck
  Associate Lecturer, Mathematics
  BA, UW Stevens Point
  MS, UW Oshkosh
  
• Jamie Thomas
  Senior Lecturer, Mathematics
  BA, University of Iowa
  MA, University of Iowa
  
• Cetin Urtis
  Assistant Professor, Mathematics
  BS, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
  PhD, University of Minnesota