Beginning Algebra II

Course Number: MTH 65
Transcript Title: Beginning Algebra II
Created: September 1, 2012
Updated: April 13, 2022
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

Texts and Materials

  • Introductory to Algebra for College Students, 5th ed. Blitzer
  • Graphing calculator or technology such as Desmos is helpful

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)

Outcome #1: Solve Problems involving polynomials.
  • Guide students through skills needed in working with polynomials in order to solve real life problems involving polynomials.
    • Arithmetic operations with polynomials
    • Simplifying polynomials involving one or more variables
    • Special products
    • Exponent manipulation of polynomials
    • Examine the relationship between quadratics and polynomials and solve problems involving quadratics
      • Solve equations through factoring
      • Solve using the Quadratic formula
      • Solve through graphing
      • Imaginary numbers in the context of solutions
    • Factoring Polynomials
      • Finding the gcf and grouping
      • Factoring trinomials
      • Factoring special forms of polynomials
      • General strategies
      • Solving quadratic (polynomials) by factoring
Outcome #2: Solve problems involving rational expressions.
  • Guide students through skills needed in working with rational expressions in order to solve real life problems.
    • Arithmetic operations with rational expressions
    • Simplifying rational expressions
    • Simplifying complex rational expressions
    • Solving rational equations
    • Solve various applications that are best solved with rational equations
Outcome #3: Solve problems involving radicals.
  • Guide students through skills needed in working with radical expressions in order to solve real world problems.
    • Simplifying radical expressions with and without rational exponents
    • Finding roots
    • Solving radical equations
    • Arithmetic operations with radicals including rationalization
Outcome #4: Communicate results mathematically and in writing.
  • Help students find the connection between words and mathematical notationin order to communicate what has been solved. (or done)

Department Notes

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