M 121M - College Algebra

Credit(s): 3

Prerequisite(s): grade of “C” or better in M 095~, appropriate placement test score, or Math Department consent.
This course is intended for students preparing for precalculus or calculus. Further development of algebraic skills through the study of linear, quadratic, polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions and their graphs. (All Semesters)

Course Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the course, students will be able to

Demonstrate conceptual understanding of functions and solve problems using four different points of view: geometric (graphs), numeric (tables), symbolic (formulas), and written (verbal descriptions and interpretations);
Choose between the four points of view appropriately when solving problems such as evaluating functions; solving equations; identifying where a function is increasing, decreasing, positive, or negative; finding domain and range, intercepts, slope, vertex, concavity, symmetries, end-behavior, and asymptotes
Create graphs when given a formula; write a formula when given a graph;
Build new functions from existing ones: using transformations, composition, and the algebra of functions. Identify when a function has an inverse, identify domain and range, and compute a formula for the inverse, when possible;
Describe real world situations using linear, quadratic, piecewise, polynomial, power, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions, and interpret functions and their parameters in real word contexts.