Beginning Algebra II

Course Number: MTH 65
Transcript Title: Beginning Algebra II
Created: September 1, 2012
Updated: August 27, 2019
Total Credits: 4
Lecture Hours: 30
Lecture / Lab Hours: 20
Lab Hours: 0
Satisfies Cultural Literacy requirement: No
Satisfies General Education requirement: No
Grading options: A-F (default), P-NP, audit
Repeats available for credit: 0

Prerequisites

MTH 60 or equivalent placement test scores

Course Description

Covers the use of applications, formulas, and reasoning skills to write, manipulate, interpret, and solve equations involving polynomials, radicals, and rational expressions. Introduces concepts numerically, graphically, and symbolically. Develops skills to communicate results in oral and written form. Prerequisites: MTH 60 or equivalent placement test scores.

Intended Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Solve problems involving polynomials.
  2. Solve problems involving rational expressions.
  3. Solve problems involving radicals.
  4. Communicate results mathematically and in writing.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Instructors will use a variety of the following measures:

  • Homework, quizzes, group activities, problem sets
  • Exams, which may include: proctored, take-home, open-book, group, cumulative.
  • Projects, portfolios, and field work - individual or group

Course Activities and Design

The determination of teaching strategies used in the delivery of outcomes is generally left to the discretion of the instructor. Here are some strategies that you might consider when designing your course: lecture, small group/forum discussion, flipped classroom, dyads, oral presentation, role play, simulation scenarios, group projects, service learning projects, hands-on lab, peer review/workshops, cooperative learning (jigsaw, fishbowl), inquiry based instruction, differentiated instruction (learning centers), graphic organizers, etc.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

  1. Exponents and Polynomials
    1. Arithmetic with Polynomials
    2. Special Products
    3. Polynomials in Several Variables
    4. Negative Exponents and Scientific Notation
  2. Factoring Polynomials
    1. Greatest Common Factor and Grouping
    2. Factoring Trinomials
    3. Factoring Special Forms
    4. General Factoring Strategy
    5. Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring.
  3. Rational Expressions
    1. Rational Expressions and Simplification
    2. Arithmetic of Rational Expressions
    3. Complex Rational Expressions
    4. Solving Rational Equations
    5. Variation and Other Applications Using Rational Equations
  4. Root and Radicals
    1. Finding Roots
    2. Operations with Radicals
    3. Rationalizing
    4. Radical Equations
    5. Rational Exponents
  5. Quadratic Equations
    1. Solving Quadratic Equations
    2. Quadratic Formula
    3. Imaginary Numbers (In the Context of Solutions)
    4. Graphing Quadratic Equations
  6. Introduction to Functions

Department Notes

Word problems are to be answered using complete sentences and include appropriate units.