Prerequisites: MATD 0414, MATD 0424, MATD 0444, NCBM 0214, NCBM 0224, or NCBM 0244; with a grade of C or higher. Or a satisfactory score on the TSI Mathematics Assessment or completion of TSI requirements in mathematics. Students who are TSI Complete in Math based on completion of NCBM 0185, NCBM 0142, MATD 0385, MATD 0342 or MATD 0485 are NOT eligible for College Algebra for Precalculus.

Required Materials 

Calculator: Students need a scientific calculator. If a student cannot purchase one, calculators are available from the library.  Most ACC faculty are familiar with the TI family of calculators. Hence, TI calculators are highly recommended for student use.  Other calculator brands can also be used.  Graphing calculator use will NOT be allowed on any exams.  However, (non-graphing) calculator use will be permitted on exams, but some exam questions will not permit calculator use.

Other Technology: Access to a webcam and microphone are NOT required for this course. Eligible students can check out required technology at https://www.austincc.edu/students/student-technology-services.

Making Time to Learn

We learn math by thinking about and working on mathematical problems, which takes time. Practice is crucial in a math course. To ensure that you have adequate time, set aside 8-12 hours per week outside of class time to practice and study for this course.  Ask for help immediately when something isn’t clear. 

Getting Help

ACC provides several free resources for students who need help; descriptions and links are below: 

Office hours: Another name for office hours is “student hours.” This is the time your instructor has set aside to answer student questions, so feel free to drop by if you have questions. Office hours may be virtual or on campus; see information above.

Instructional Associates: Instructional Associates specific to the course you are taking are available for tutoring. To make an appointment, go to https://sites.google.com/a/austincc.edu/math-students/meet/list and then click on your course.

Learning Labs: The ACC Learning Labs provide tutoring in math and other subjects. To schedule an appointment, go to https://www.austincc.edu/students/learning-lab. This site includes information about in person and virtual tutoring options.

Academic Coaching: Academic coaches offer extra support to students with study strategies; they want to help you learn to be an active participant in your own learning process. For more information or to make an appointment with an academic coach, go to https://www.austincc.edu/students/academic-coaching.

ACC Student Services: Services are offered in many areas, including Academic, Financial, Personal, and Technology Support.  For more information, go to https://www.austincc.edu/student-support.

Grades

Grade Components

Tests 1-3: 60%

Test 4 (Comprehensive Final): 25%

ALEKS Homework: 7.5%

Handwritten Homework: 7.5%

Grading Scale

A: 90 - 100

B: 80 – 89

C: 70 – 79

D: 60 – 69

F: < 60

Where can I find my grades?

Grades will be posted in Blackboard.

What will we do in this class?

Tests:

There will be 3 exams, each of which will count 20% of your overall course grade, and a fourth exam which is a cumulative final and is worth 25% of your overall course grade.  The dates of the exams are noted on the schedule, always on the Wednesday of the exam week. All tests will be administered in class. Partial credit is given on exams when the answer is wrong, but when the methods used are partially correct.  However, the amount of partial credit given on exams is at the discretion of the instructor.

Homework:

ALEKS Homework and Written Homework will be assigned every week on Wednesday (Written Homework is assigned in Blackboard in the Homework Box) and is due before class the next Wednesday.  Instructions on how to access ALEKS and the Blackboard Homework Box will be discussed on the first day of class. Both ALEKS Homework and Written Homework are required.

It is vital that students NOT get behind on homework. Make use of tutoring resources and office hours if you have questions about the homework.  You may work in groups on homework, but the homework you submit must represent your own work. Get help when you need it, but don’t abuse tutors, professors, or others.  You need to learn how to set up and solve the problems yourself.  If you don’t, then you will not do well on the tests.

What happens if I miss something?

Dropped Grade Policy: The lowest three Written Homework section grades will be dropped for computing the final grade.  No ALEKS Homework grades or Exam grades will be dropped or replaced.

Late Homework Policy: Late homework assignments will rarely be accepted under any circumstances.

Missed Exam Policy: Missing an exam is very serious and should be avoided if possible. A makeup exam will only be given in the case of a genuine emergency or extreme illness (with appropriate documentation), and at the discretion of the instructor. Makeup exams are disruptive and inconvenient to both the student and the instructor. If you know that you must miss an exam, contact the instructor well in advance of the exam date to determine the best course of action.

Attendance/Class Participation: Daily attendance is mandatory.  There is no such thing as an “excused absence”. The result of missing a class is the same regardless of the reason. You miss instruction. You miss an opportunity to ask questions. The goal is to minimize these disruptions, and to take personal responsibility to make up for any missed class on your own time.

Regular and punctual class and laboratory attendance is expected of all students.  If a student has five or more absences, is consistently disruptive in the classroom, or if compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw the student from the class.

In the event the college or campus closes due to unforeseen circumstances (for example, severe weather or other emergency), the student is responsible for communicating with their professor during the closure and completing any assignments or other activities designated by their professor as a result of class sessions being missed.  “Absence Count” in the gradebook merely records the number of absences and does not affect the final grade.

What AI Resources are allowed?

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) Policy: Generative AI (GAI) is a useful tool for exploration and learning. Use of GAI on unproctored work such as homework and independent learning is permitted, but caution is advised as not to become dependent on it. The purpose of assessments is to demonstrate what students are able to do independently. In this course, GAI includes Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) and any electronic tools that solve problems for students. Violations to GAI use policies are considered scholastic dishonesty and will be handled according to established departmental and college procedures. GAI may not be used on major assessments other than in cases where permissions are explicitly stated.

Course Content

Course Description

Credit Hours: 4, Contact Hours: 4

MATH 1414 – College Algebra for Precalculus (4-4-0). A course for students planning to take Precalculus (MATH 2412) and Calculus (MATH 2413). Content includes the rational, real, and complex number systems; the study of functions including polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, and logarithmic functions and related equations; inequalities; sequences and series; systems of linear equations using matrices.

The Details

First Day Access: To enhance your learning experience and provide affordable access to the right course material, this course is part of an inclusive access model called First Day™. You can easily access the required materials for this course through Blackboard, at a discounted price, and benefit from single sign-on access.  Austin Community College includes the discounted price as a course fee in your registration fees for this course.

It is NOT recommended that you Opt Out, as these materials are required to complete the course. You can choose to Opt Out on the first day of class, but you will be responsible for purchasing your course materials at the full retail price and access to your materials may be suspended. See your course in Blackboard for details.

Withdrawal Policy: It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary. If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date. The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records.

Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall 2002 may be charged a higher tuition rate for that course.  State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities. With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit. Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog.

Reinstatement Policy: Students who withdrew or were withdrawn will not be reinstated unless they have completed all coursework, projects, and exams necessary to place them at the same level of course completion as the rest of the class. Reinstatement is up to the instructor’s approval.

Incomplete Grade Policy: Incomplete grades (I) will be given only in very rare circumstances. Generally, to receive a grade of "I", a student must be up to date on coursework and have a passing grade, and after the last date to withdraw, have a legitimate reason that prevents course completion. An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester.

Communication with Your Instructor: All e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account or math software if applicable, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion.  Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account or math software when communicating with instructors.  Instructors will respond to student emails within 3 business days, if no response has been received by the student at the end of that time, then the student should send a reminder to the instructor.

Name Change Information: If you want to change how your name appears online at ACC, go to https://www.austincc.edu/admissions/update-student-information/chosen-name.

General College Policies: Policies that apply to all courses at ACC can be found here: https://www.austincc.edu/offices/academic-outcomes-assessment/master-syllabi/college-policies.

This is a First Day™ class. The cost of required course materials, including an online version of the textbook and ALEKS, has been added to your tuition and fees bill. ALEKS is required in this course.

Textbook: College Algebra & Trigonometry, 2nd Edition by Miller & Gerken. McGraw-Hill (ALEKS software) ISBN: 9781260260441 (hardcover), 9781264248841 (spiral bound), or 9781264248667 (ebook)

Course Calendar

Note: Schedule changes may occur during the semester. Changes will be announced.

Important Dates

Last day for 70% refund: Monday, February 9, 2026

Last day to withdraw: Monday, April 27, 2026

Holidays: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 19, 2026; Spring Break, March 16-20, 2026

Course Rationale

This course is designed to teach students the functional approach to mathematical relationships that they will need for a calculus sequence. Other courses, such as MATH 1314, MATH 1332, or MATH 1342 are more appropriate to meet a general mathematics requirement.  Check with your degree plan as to what math course your college requires.

Note: Students who have a degree requirement for College Algebra but are not planning to take Precalculus should take College Algebra MATH 1314.

Course Objectives

Functions: 

• Use and interpret functional notation. 
• Find the domain of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, and logarithmic functions. 
• Find a symbolic representation of the sum, difference, product, quotient, and composition of two functions.
• Evaluate the sum, difference, product, quotient, and composition of two functions at a given value of the respective domain for functions represented symbolically, graphically, and numerically.
• Find the inverse of a function represented symbolically, graphically, or numerically. 
• Interpret the graphs of functions.
• Recognize and evaluate arithmetic/geometric sequences and series.

Graphing functions: 

• Sketch the graphs of the following functions: Lines, x2, x3, x1/2, 1/x, 1/x2, |x|, factored polynomials of degree 3 or more, ax, logax, and rigid transformations of these functions. 
• Describe the short run and end behavior of polynomial and rational functions.
• Approximate the zeros of a function from its graph.
• Solve an inequality involving a function from its graph.
• Graph a piece-wise defined function.

Symbolic Adeptness: 

• Solve polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic equations symbolically.
• Solve equations involving radicals symbolically.
• Solve equations with rational exponents symbolically.
• Solve equations with negative exponents symbolically.
• Solve polynomial and rational inequalities symbolically. 
• Use the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra and the Conjugate Zeros Theorem to find zeros of polynomials of degree three or greater. 
• Find the vertex of a parabola written in standard form by using the formula  h = -b/2a.
• Perform algebraic operations on complex numbers (addition, subtraction and multiplication).
• Convert an exponential equation to logarithmic form, and a logarithmic equation to exponential form.
• Solve Exponential and Logarithmic equations symbolically.
• Evaluate exponential and logarithmic functions using the change of base formula and a calculator.
• Use the properties of logarithms to expand a logarithmic expression, and to write an expanded logarithmic expression as a single logarithm.
• Solve a system of linear equations using Gaussian elimination.
• Perform algebraic operations on matrices, including addition, scalar multiplication, matrix multiplication.
• Find the determinant of a matrix and apply Cramer’s Rule.

Applications 

• Recognize and use applications of linear functions. 
• Recognize and use applications of quadratic functions, including falling object problems and extrema problems.
• Recognize and use applications of exponential and logarithmic functions, including exponential growth and decay, doubling time, and half-life problems.
• Recognize and use applications of systems of linear equations. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of properties of functions, which include domain and range, operations, compositions, and inverses.
2. Recognize and apply polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions and solve related equations.
3. Apply graphical, symbolic and numeric techniques.
4. Evaluate all roots of higher degree polynomial and rational functions.
5. Recognize, solve and apply systems of linear equations using matrices.
6. Perform algebraic operations on matrices, evaluate the determinant and apply Cramer’s Rule
7. Recognize and evaluate arithmetic/geometric sequences and series.

General Education Competencies

1. Communication Skills: Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral, and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.
2. Critical Thinking: Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate, and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking.
3. Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Apply mathematical, logical, and scientific principles and methods through the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions.