MTHM 171  COLLEGE ALGEBRA 

Lorain County Community College

Instructor:  Ms. Renee Mahoney

E-mail:  [email protected] or [email protected]

Course Description: Study of algebraic functions, equations, systems of equations, inequalities, matrices, partial fractions, exponential and logarithmic functions. Designed primarily for the calculus-bound student. Not to be taken if credit for MTHM 175 has been earned. Graphing calculator required. Mathematics Core Course.  Prerequisite: Course placement policy: Grade of C or higher in MTHM 081 or satisfactory placement assessment in mathematics. This is a 4 credit hour course.

Course Outcomes: 

1. Represent polynomial, rational, root, exponential, logarithmic, and piece-wise defined functions verbally, numerically, graphically, and algebraically.

2. View a function as a set of ordered pairs or a correspondence between two sets.

3. Find the domain and range of functions.

4. Perform operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, composition) with functions.

5. Perform translations and dilations of functions.

6. Use functions to model a variety of situations.

7. Solve equations, including application problems.

8. Solve systems of linear equations, including application problems.

9. Solve nonlinear inequalities.

10. Apply the factor theorem, the remainder theorem, and the rational roots theorem, including application problems.

11. Find inverses of functions and relate the graph of a function to the graph of its inverse.

12. Analyze the graph of a function to answer questions about the function (such as intercepts, domain, range, intervals where the function is increasing or decreasing, possible algebraic definitions, etc.)

13. Gain confidence in his/her critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.

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