Learning Support for Pre-Calculus - MDE 61 at Virginia Western Community College
https://courses.vccs.edu/colleges/vwcc/courses/MDE61-LearningSupportforPreCalculus
Effective: 2020-01-01
Course Description
Provides support to ensure success for students co-enrolled in Pre-Calculus (MTH 161). Course will review foundational topics through direct instruction, guided practice, and individualized support.
Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
3 credits
The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.
General Course Purpose
This course provides support to ensure student success with the MTH 161 objectives.
Course Prerequisites/Corequisites
Corequisite: MTH 161
Course Objectives
- Relations and Functions
- Distinguish between relations and functions.
- Evaluate functions both numerically and algebraically.
- Determine the domain and range of functions in general, including root and rational functions.
- Perform arithmetic operations on functions, including the composition of functions and the difference quotient.
- Identify and graph linear, absolute value, quadratic, cubic, and square root functions and their transformations.
- Determine and verify inverses of one-to-one functions.
- Polynomial and Rational Functions
- Determine the general and standard forms of quadratic functions.
- Use formula and completing the square methods to determine the standard form of a quadratic function.
- Identify intercepts, vertex, and orientation of the parabola and use these to graph quadratic functions.
- Identify zeros (real-valued roots) and complex roots, and determine end behavior of higher order polynomials and graph the polynomial, and graph.
- Determine if a function demonstrates even or odd symmetry.
- Use the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, Rational Root test, and Linear Factorization Theorem to factor polynomials and determine the zeros over the complex numbers.
- Identify intercepts, end behavior, and asymptotes of rational functions, and graph.
- Solve polynomial and rational inequalities.
- Interpret the algebraic and graphical meaning of equality of functions (f(x) = g(x)) and inequality of functions (f(x) > g(x))
- Decompose partial fractions of the form P(x)/Q(x) where Q(x) is a product of linear factors
- Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
- Identify and graph exponential and logarithmic functions and their transformations.
- Use properties of logarithms to simplify and expand logarithmic expressions.
- Convert between exponential and logarithmic forms and demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the two forms.
- Solve exponential and logarithmic equations using one-to-one and inverse properties.
- Solve application problems involving exponential and logarithmic functions.
- Systems of Equations
- Solve three variable linear systems of equations using the Gaussian elimination method.
Major Topics to be Included
- Factoring
- Simplifying algebraic expressions
- Solving higher order equations with real and complex roots
- Graphing
- Asymptotic behavior
- Power, polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions
- Systems of equations and inequalities
- Inverse functions
- Difference quotient
- Gaussian elimination