Faculty Syllabus
MATH-1414 College Algebra for Precalculus
Joel Owidi
Credit Spring 2026
Section(s)
MATH-1414-040 (17741)
LEC MW 7:05pm - 8:50pm DIL DLS DIL
MATH-1414-042 (28865)
LEC MW 10:30am - 12:15pm SGC SGC1 1313
Course Requirements
About Your Course
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.
ALEKS will be used in this class.
Calculator: Students need either a scientific or business calculator. (Has log or ln key.) If a student cannot purchase one, calculators are available from the library. Graphing calculators are not required, but you will use graphing technology in most sections of the book. Graphing calculators are also available in the library. Most ACC faculty are familiar with the TI family of graphing calculators. Hence, TI calculators are highly recommended for student use. Other calculator brands can also be used. Your instructor will determine the extent of calculator use in your class section.
Other Technology: Access to a webcam and microphone are required for this course. Eligible students can check out required technology at https://www.austincc.edu/students/student-technology-services.
Readings
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.
Textbook: College Algebra & Trigonometry, 2nd Edition by Miller & Gerken. McGraw-Hill (ALEKS software)
ISBN: 9781260260441 (hardcover), 9781264248841 (spiral bound), or 9781264248667 (ebook)
Course Subjects
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 (division?)).
- 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/Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of properties of functions, which include domain and range, operations, compositions, and inverses.
- Recognize and apply polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions and solve related equations.
- Apply graphical, symbolic and numeric techniques.
- Evaluate all roots of higher degree polynomial and rational functions.
- Recognize, solve and apply systems of linear equations using matrices.
- Perform algebraic operations on matrices, evaluate the determinant and apply Cramer’s Rule
- Recognize and evaluate arithmetic/geometric sequences and series.
Office Hours
M W 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM SGC Office 1300.24
NOTE Other hours may be available by appointment.T Th 11:25 AM - 11:55 AM Virtual via zoom.
NOTE Other hours may be made available by appointment.M W 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM Virtual via zoom
NOTE Other hours may be made available by appointment.Published: 01/06/2026 14:11:50