MT 180 - Pre-Calculus Mathematics

Credit Hours: 4

Solutions to equations and inequalities, behavior of polynomial, rational, transcendental and other functions, sequences and series, two and three dimensional coordinate systems, vectors and matrices. Topics in this course are essential for students who will enroll in the MT 181-182-283 sequence. Graphing calculators will be used throughout the course. No mathematics elective credit will be given to Liberal Arts - Mathematics majors if taken after passing MT181.

Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

express solutions to equations and inequalities in set and interval notation (union, intersection and complements);
sketch and analyze the basic forms, inverses and the behavior when transformed by translation reflection and scaling of the following functions: linear, exponential, logarithmic, polynomial, rational, radical piecewise defined and absolute value;
solve basic equations and inequalities and identify the roots related to the functions in the second objective;
rewrite rational expressions as the sum of partial fractions;
sketch and analyze the graphs, inverses and transformations of exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions;
solve more advanced equations related to the exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions;
identify arithmetic and geometric sequences and series;
determine convergence or divergence of Geometric series;
compute sums for finite and infinite convergent series;
in 2-space, convert between rectangular and polar coordinates;
be familiar with coordinates in 3-space;
graph, solve and convert parametric equations;
solve vector problems;
perform vector operations including dot product and projections; and
perform elementary row operations on matrices and solve systems of equations using matrices.

Technology Objectives:

Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency with a graphing calculator in performing the following skills: changing modes, point plotting, evaluating a function, graphing algebraic and transcendental functions, finding roots of a function, points of intersection, maximum and minimum, solving inequalities and equations, graphing equations which are not functions, matrices, system of inequalities.

Prerequisites: MT 126 or waived from placement test or placed into degree credit math.
F/S (C, N, S)