Overview of Courses

• The following table shows where (which Pie) the concepts (vertical column) in Beginning Algebra are covered.
• Some concepts are covered throughout the course still there is a "main focus" in each Pie.
  • Pie 1: order of operations; study of real numbers; solving all types of linear equations, solving inequalities, laws of exponents, basic ideas of rational expressions, simplifying radicals, and using the Pythagorean Theorem
  • Pie 2: writing equations of lines; factoring; solving quadratic equations, and additional work for rational expressions with monomial denominators
  • Pie 3: solving systems of equations and application problems, simplifying rational expressions, and solving rational equations that require factoring
  • Pie 4: solving absolute value inequalities, solving rational equations that simplify to quadratic equations; simplifying radicals and solving radical equations; solving quadratic equations using the quadratic formula; graphing parabolas; and concepts of relations and functions

   

  MTH 120: Beginning Algebra	Pie 1	Pie 2	Pie 3	Pie 4
  I. Real Numbers Operations, substitution and evaluation…Algebraic symbols…Number system and properties of numbers…Applications
  More applications
  II. Solving Linear Equations (and Inequalities) Solving linear equations and inequalities…Solving literal equations
  Solving absolute value equations and inequalities
  Solving absolute value equations
  III. Graphs and Functions Graphing points…Beginning graphing of lines… Finding intercepts of a line…Some set notation
  More graphing of lines…Writing equations for lines given…Graphing linear inequalities
  Domain and range of a relation and function…Defining a function…Graphing an absolute value
  IV. Systems of Linear Equations Application
  Interpreting a graph
  Solving systems of linear equations and applications... Graphing systems of linear equations and inequalities… Solving inconsistent systems
  V.  Exponents & Polynomials Properties of exponents…Scientific notation…Operating with polynomials..Factoring
  More factoring…Solving quadratic equations
  Solving quadratic equations using the quadratic formula…Working with the discriminant…Applications that require a quadratic equation to solve
  VI. Rational Expressions and Functions Working with rational expressions and equations with monomials in denominators…Applications using proportions and variation
  Multiplying rational expressions that require factoring…Adding and subtracting rational expressions…Ratios… More problems using variation
  Working with rational expressions and solving equations which require factoring… Applications from geometry… Solving rational equations that simplify to quadratic equations
  VII. Radicals and Quadratic Equations Simplifying square roots…Pythagorean Theorem…Finding cube root
  Completing the square
  Operating with radicals…Solving radical equations Solving quadratic equations using quadratic formula…Even- and odd-root properties…Solving equations using even- and odd-root properties…
  Additional operations with radicals…Solving radicals which simplify to a quadratic equation…Graphing parabolas
  VIII. Other topics Vertical translation of a graph…Midpoint and distance between two points
  IX. Relations and Functions: Optional, not required Authored by me    RELATIONS AND FUNCTIONS