MAT 110: College Algebra

Introduction

If you decide to take college algebra online, you will be signing on for an adventure that will require a great deal of work and dedication on your part. Your reward is being able to complete this course in your own setting and at your personally selected best times of day. Your instructors will be here to help you every step of the way, serving as guides, facilitators, and a cheering section to encourage you as you proceed. They hope and expect to hear from you often.

In this course students will be expected to study commentaries and the text, complete homework assignments, enter into online discussions and take proctored paper and pencil exams.

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 110: College Algebra - 3 credits. Definition of function and sequence; linear and nonlinear functions and graphs including logarithmic and exponential functions; systems of linear equations and Gauss-Jordan method; theory of polynomial equations; conic sections and optional topics such as mathematical induction, matrix solution of linear systems and Cramer's rule

Successful completion of this course will meet the Mathematics Core Requirement of the UW Colleges Associate of Arts and Science (AAS) degree. If a student has already met this core requirement through the successful completion of Math 108, a passing grade in this course will earn three Mathematical Science (MS) credits toward the Math and Natural Sciences breadth requirement of the AAS degree.

Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT 105 or placement based on placement test score.

This college algebra course assumes that you have completed Math 105 (Introduction to College Algebra) with a grade of C or better or that you have completed two years of high school algebra or the equivalent.

The course topics include:

  • Definition of function, function transformation, function operation and inverse
  • Linear and nonlinear functions and their graphs including:
    • polynomial functions, rational functions
    • logarithmic and exponential functions
    • conic sections
  • Solving systems of equations, Gauss-Jordan method, matrix solutions, Cramer’s rule
  • The Binomial Theorem

 

Proficiencies

Institutional proficiencies assigned to this course

Successful completion of this course will enhance the student's 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 learn to:

  • Graph a variety of basic equations using intercepts and symmetry where appropriate
  • Complete the square for graphing circles and parabolas
  • Graph polynomial and rational functions
  • Use function transformations
  • Use function arithmetic and composition
  • Understand functions and inverse function evaluation
  • Use the Factor Theorem for polynomials and the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
  • Apply the properties of logarithms
  • Solve logarithmic and exponential equations
  • Solve systems of linear equations
  • Solve applied problems

Requirements

Textbook Reading Assignments

The reading assignments in this course are vitally important for your success. It is important that you learn how to read a math book, how to work through worked examples, and how to complete exercises from the problem sets in the book independently. This requires discipline, which is absolutely essential for your success in online courses.

Online Access

The required materials for this course include a MathXL online access package.

Required Online Access:

MathXL -- Instant Access -- for College Algebra, 11/E
Lial, Hornsby & Schneider  ©2013  |  Pearson  |  Access Card
ISBN-10: 0321795369  |  ISBN-13: 9780321795366

Technology

In addition to the MathXL homework assignments, there will be written homework assignments that you will submit to the Dropbox. These assignments will need to be scanned to digital format to show the work you did as part of the assignment. Alternatively, you may show your work using Microsoft Word Equation Editor or MathType.

Software

The most current edition of Microsoft Office (containing Microsoft Word (plus an equation editor) and other valuable programs) is available to University of Wisconsin students at discounted prices through the Wisconsin Integrated Software Catalog.

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

  • Shockwave/Flash
  • RealPlayer
  • QuickTime
  • MathXL Player and Test Gen plug-ins
  • Adobe Reader

Hardware

A graphing calculator can be a useful tool in this course. You can use the specific calculator or online graphing program of your choice, but you will not need a calculator with any greater functionality than a TI-86. Also, please ensure you have a manual for your calculator, as the instructor is not responsible for any technical or operational support for your calculator. When using your calculator to work problems that will be submitted for grading, please be aware that all work for problems must be shown; full credit will not be given for answers that fail to demonstrate how the solution was determined.

About the Instructors

  • Photo of Rotraut CahillRotraut Cahill
    Professor, Mathematics/Computer Science
    BA, Rutgers State University
    MA, University of Rochester
    PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana
  • Photo of Roger PetersonRoger Peterson
    Professor, Mathematics
    BA, Northwestern University
    PhD, Ohio State University
  • Photo of Yuriy ShlapakYuriy Shlapak
    Assistant Professor
    B.S., Kiev Taras Shevchenko University (Ukraine)
    M.S., University of Connecticut
    Ph.D., University of Connecticut