MATH 1011: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

This course will introduce the basic tools of algebra: equations, inequalities, functions, graphs, polynomials, rational functions, the exponential and logarithmic functions, and systems of equations. We will learn not only how to explicitly solve equations and inequalities, but also how to think about the nature of the problems they raise. In this spirit we will develop the language and notation of functions. In doing so we will gain a much better understanding of what it means to "solve problems": we will learn to think of solutions as functions or arguments of functions, and this will enable us to better "see" problems graphically, particularly with the aid of computers. As a side benefit, in fact, we will learn to use technology, computers mainly, to help us with our tasks in algebra, be it explicit solutions to problems, approximation of solutions, or graphics.