Math 116 - College Algebra Lecture Notes

Go to: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8

Prerequisites

Chapter 1 - Functions and Their Graphs

  1. Graphs and Graphing Utilities
  2. Lines in the Plane
  3. Functions
  4. Graphs of Functions
  5. Shifting, Reflecting, and Stretching Graphs
  6. Combinations of Functions
  7. Inverse Functions

Chapter 2 - Intercepts, Zeros, and Solutions

  1. Linear Equations and Modeling
  2. Solving Equations Graphically
  3. Complex Numbers
  4. Solving Equations Algebraically
  5. Solving Inequalities Algebraically and Graphically
  6. Exploring Data: Linear Models and Scatter Plots (now covered in 2.1 in text)

Chapter 3 - Polynomials and Rational Functions

  1. Quadratic Functions
  2. Polynomial Functions of Higher Degree
  3. Real Zeros of Polynomial Functions
  4. The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
  5. Rational Functions and Asymptotes
  6. Graphs of Rational Functions

Chapter 4 - Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

  1. Exponential Functions and Their Graphs
  2. Logarithmic Functions and Their Graphs
  3. Properties of Logarithms
  4. Solving Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
  5. Exponential and Logarithmic Models
  6. Exploring Data: Nonlinear Models (now covered in 4.5 in text)

Chapter 5 - Systems of Equations and Inequalities

  1. Solving Systems of Equations
  2. Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables
  3. Multivariable Linear Systems
  4. Partial Fractions
  5. Systems of Inequalities
  6. Linear Programming (now covered in 5.3 in text)

Chapter 6 - Matrices and Determinants

  1. Matrices and Systems of Equations
  2. Matrix Operations
  3. The Inverse of a Square Matrix
  4. The Determinant of a Square Matrix
  5. Applications of Determinants and Matrices

Chapter 7 - Sequences and Probability

  1. Sequences and Summation Notation
  2. Arithmetic Sequences
  3. Geometric Sequences
  4. Mathematical Induction
  5. The Binomial Theorem
  6. Counting Principles
  7. Probability

Chapter 8 - Conics and Parametric Equations

  1. Conics
  2. Translations of Conics
  3. Parametric Equations

These notes were written during the Fall 1997 semester to accompany Larson's College Algebra: A Graphing Approach, 2nd edition text. We have moved on to Larson's 5th edition and some sections have changed but I have left them where they are since many people on the Internet find these useful resources.

The notes were updated in the Fall 2003 semester to use Cascading Style Sheets and validate as XHTML 1.0 strict web pages. If your browser doesn't support CSS, certain pages (especially those with matrices) will not display properly.

Go to the James Jones website.