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 MT 181.

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)