Algebra, Part 1

Course ID: MTH-401

Audience
Adult Continuing Education Program and High School Program

Course Description
The goal of the Algebra series is to enable students to develop the mathematical skills they need to solve problems in algebra. Topics in this first course include reviewing concepts related to equations, the coordinate plane and functions, linear equations and functions, slope and the y-intercept, inequalities, and systems of equations and inequalities. As students progress through the course, they build on what they already know.

Media
large print

Organization
Six chapters, ten assignments

Credit
Students who successfully complete both "Algebra, Part 1" and "Algebra, Part 2" earn 1 high school credit or Carnegie Unit.

Prerequisites
To enroll in this class, a student needs one of the following prerequisites:
- successful completion of the "Pre-Algebra" series
- instructor's approval based on placement test

Overview
Students submit ten assignments to the instructor.

Grading
letter grades

Objectives and Content

Chapter 1: Solving Equations
After completing this chapter, the student will be able to
a. tell whether a given number is the solution of an equation
b. show that two equations are equivalent
c. use the properties of equality to make equivalent equations
d. use inverse operations to solve equations
e. solve equations using subtraction
f. solve equations using addition
g. solve equations using multiplication
h. solve equations using division
i. solve equations using more than one operation
j. solve equations containing parentheses
k. solve equations with the variable on both sides

Chapter 2: Introducing Functions
After completing this chapter, the student will be able to
a. give the location of a point on the coordinate plane
b. graph ordered pairs on the coordinate plane
c. write and graph ordered pairs from a table
d. find at least three ordered pairs for a given equation
e. tell without graphing whether each group of ordered pairs is a function
f. find the value of a function
g. use a bar graph or table to answer questions

Chapter 3: Linear Equations and Functions
After completing this chapter, the student will be able to
a. tell whether an ordered pair is the solution to an equation
b. graph linear equations
c. find the slope of a line from two points on the line
d. find the slope of a line from its graph
e. use a pair of points to tell if the lines are parallel or perpendicular
f. find the x-intercept and y-intercept of a line
g. use the slope-intercept form to find the slope and y-intercept of a line
h. write an equation in slope-intercept form

Chapter 4: Writing Linear Equations
After completing this chapter, the student will be able to
a. find the equation of a line by using the slope and y-intercept
b. find the equation of a line by using a point and the slope
c. find the equation of a line by using two points on the line

Chapter 5: Inequalities
After completing this chapter, the student will be able to
a. graph the solution of an inequality on a number line
b. solve inequalities using addition or subtraction
c. solve inequalities using multiplication or division
d. solve inequalities using more than one step
e. tell whether a point on the number line belongs to the graph of an inequality

Chapter 6: Systems of Equations
After completing this chapter, the student will be able to
a. tell whether a given ordered pair is the solution to a given equation
b. solve a system of linear equations using substitution
c. solve a system of linear equations using addition or subtraction
d. solve a system of linear equations using multiplication or division
e. solve a system of linear equations using more than one equation