Intermediate Algebra

University credit, 25 assignments, 5 exams, $796 tuition, $60 administration fee, Prerequisites: One year each of high-school algebra and geometry. This is course U600-101.

This course is intended for students with minimal mathematics background. It prepares students for college-level work in algebra. Students who have done well in three or more years of high-school mathematics should consider Math 112: College Algebra.

Prerequisite: See the prerequisite page for more details.

Course Materials

• Intermediate Algebra, 9th ed. Lial, Hornsby, and Miller. Addison-Wesley, 2004
  SEARCH FOR AVAILABLE COPIES OF TEXTBOOK
• Course Guide for Mathematics 101, Wilson, UW-Extension Independent Learning, available through MBS at direct.mbsbooks.com/uwlearning.htm (choose "Buy Materials", then "Independent Learning") or 800-325-3252
• Student Handbook, available at learn.wisconsin.edu/il/studenthandbook/studenthandbook.pdf, or on paper by request to Learner Services, toll-free 1-877-UW-LEARN (877-895-3276)

Format of Course

The course consists of 5 modules, each of which has 5 lessons followed by a module exam. Each lesson consists of:

• A reading assignment from the text.
• Exercises to test your understanding of the material. (Solutions to these self-test problems are provided in the course guide.)
• A written assignment, from the text, to submit for grading and feedback.

At the end of each module is a sample exam, with solutions provided. The actual exam is mailed to a proctor selected by the student in accordance with Independent Learning's guidelines.

Grading

Score	Letter Grade
NOTE: The grading scale was revised on Nov 13, 2003. This grading scale applies to all students who complete the course after that date.
93-100	A
90-92	AB
83-89	B
80-82	BC
73-79	C
65-72	D
0-64	F

Each lesson and each exam is graded on a 100-point scale. The final score is computed as a weighted average, with the average of the lessons counting for 40%, and the average of the exams counting 60%. The exam average must be at least 65 for a passing grade. Assuming this is the case, the average of all your work is converted to a letter grade as shown in the table.

Course Outline

Module 161: Linear Equations and Inequalities

• Lesson 1: Review of Arithmetic
• Lesson 2: Linear Equations in One Variable
• Lesson 3: Lines and Applications
• Lesson 4: Linear Inequalities
• Lesson 5: Compound Inequalities and Absolute Value

Module 162: Lines and Systems of Equations

• Lesson 6: Coordinates and Lines
• Lesson 7: Linear Equations and Variation
• Lesson 8: Linear Systems
• Lesson 9: Applications of Linear Systems
• Lesson 10: Exponents

Module 163: Polynomials

• Lesson 11: Polynomial Arithmetic
• Lesson 12: Factoring Polynomials
• Lesson 13: More Factoring
• Lesson 14: An Application of Factoring
• Lesson 15: Rational Expressions

Module 164: Roots and Radicals

• Lesson 16: Equations with Rational Expressions
• Lesson 17: Rational Exponents and Radicals
• Lesson 18: Arithmetic with Radical Expressions
• Lesson 19: Equations with Radicals
• Lesson 20: Complex Numbers

Module 165: Quadratic and Other Functions

• Lesson 21: Quadratic Equations
• Lesson 22: More Quadratic Equations
• Lesson 23: Parabolas
• Lesson 24: Circles, Ellipses, and Inverse Functions
• Lesson 25: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions