Math 100 Learning Objectives

 

Intended Clientele: This is a developmental course intended to bring students to a level at which they can perform successfully in the mathematics and other quantitative courses they need to take for their general education requirements or to support their major. The next course such students would likely take will be one of: Mathematics 105, 110, 115, 116, or 121.

 

Goals: This course should help students to acquire a solid foundation in the basic skills of algebra and to develop problem-solving skills.

 

The student should be able to

·       Add, subtract, and multiply polynomials in one and in several variables.

·       Divide a polynomial by either a monomial or binomial.

·       Factor polynomials with a common factor and by grouping.

·       Factor trinomials by examining both the leading coefficient and the constant term.

·       Recognize and factor square trinomials and differences of squared terms.

·       Solve quadratic equations when factored and also by factoring.

·       Simplify rational expressions by factoring numerator and denominator.

·       Multiply and divide rational expressions and simplify, as well as find the reciprocal of a rational expression.

·       Find the slope and the y-intercept given the equation of a line.

·       Find an equation of a line given its slope and y-intercept and use the slope and y-intercept to graph a line.

·       Find an equation of the line given its slope and a point on the line, or given two points on the line.

·       Determine whether two lines are parallel, perpendicular, or neither, given their equations.

·       Solve a system of two linear equations in two variables and solve applied problems by translating to a system of two equations in two variables

·       Approximate square roots of positive numbers using a calculator.

·       Identify whether a radical expression represents a real number.

·       Write a quadratic equation in standard form, ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a > 0, and determine the coefficients a, b, and c.

·        Solve quadratic equations using the quadratic formula, and approximate the solutions using a calculator.