College Algebra Course Description
College Algebra is a universally respected course geared at establishing or reinforcing the key concept for upper level post-secondary Mathematics. Over the years College Algebra has been the foundation Math course to starting studies in many branches of knowledge or learning. In some cases, it is the Math requirement of many disciplines.
The topics covered in this course include absolute value equations and inequalities, graphing skills, inverse functions, logarithmic and exponential functions, polynomial and rational functions, piecewise-defined functions, theory of equations and matrices.
Upon completion of a College Algebra course the student should be able to:
- Evaluate a function from its graph, formula or equation.
- Determine if a relation is a function and state its domain and range given the graph or equation.
- Perform algebraic operations and compositions with functions.
- Categorize basic functions given their graphs or equations.
- Graph the inverse of a function whose graph is given.
- Solve logarithmic, exponential, absolute value, radical and miscellaneous higher order equations.
- Solve polynomial and rational inequalities.
- Graph rational, polynomial, piecewise, exponential and logarithmic functions and selected inverse functions.
- Use symmetry and transformations to sketch graphs.
- Solve linear and nonlinear systems of equations.
- Set up and solve applications involving functions and relations.
Prerequisites
After competing CSEC Mathematics, Integrated or Algebra 2 in high school, you should have the content knowledge to do well in College Algebra. However, there is one more requirement that colleges and universities use to check for the reliability and validity of the grade earned for the prerequisite. Consequently, many colleges and universities require you to have the following scores or proficiency:
ACT: 24 or better on the mathematics portion
SAT: 520 or better on the mathematics portion
IGCSE Math 0580: C or better
CSEC Mathematics: grade III or better