Jul 19, 2025  
2025-2026 Catalog SVC 
    
2025-2026 Catalog SVC

MATH 097 - Elementary Algebra


Credits: 5
Variable Credit Course: No

Lecture Hours: 55
Lab Hours: 0
Worksite/Clinical Hours: 0
Other Hours (LIA/Internships): 0

Course Description: This is a beginning course in algebra. Topics include: algebraic expressions; linear equations and inequalities; systems of linear equations and inequalities; and an introduction to polynomials and factoring.

Prerequisite: MATH 096 with a C or higher (or placement into MATH 097/WMATH 100).
Strongly Recommended:
Special Requirements:

Meets FQE Requirement: No
Integrative Experience Requirement: No

Student Learning Outcomes
  1. Use appropriate mathematical notation for sets, intervals, and functions.
  2. Apply the commutative, associative, distributive properties to simplify expressions.
  3. Solve linear equations.
  4. Solve linear and compound inequalities and graph solutions on a number line.
  5. Graph linear equations in two variables using the slope and intercepts.
  6. Find equations of lines using slope-intercept form or point-slope form.
  7. Solve systems of linear equations by graphing, elimination, and substitution.
  8. Solve systems of linear inequalities by graphing.
  9. Add, subtract, multiply, and divide polynomials.
  10. Factor polynomials and use factoring to solve polynomial equations.
  11. Solve applications relevant to course content.

Course Contents
  1. Simplifying Algebraic Expressions. Properties of real numbers. Commutative, associative, distributive properties.
  2. Solving Linear Equations and Inequalities. Solve linear equations. Solve mixture and uniform motion applications. Solve linear inequalities. Solve compound inequalities. Use interval notation and the number line to express solutions.
  3. Graphs and Functions. Graph linear equations in two variables. Find the equation of a line. Graph linear inequalities in two variables.
  4. Systems of Linear Equations. Solve systems of linear equations in two variables using graphing, elimination, and substitution. Solve systems of linear equations in three variables. Solve applications with systems of equations. Graph systems of inequalities in two variables.
  5. Polynomials and Polynomial Functions. Add and subtract polynomials. Multiply and divide polynomials. Find the greatest common factor and factor by grouping. Factor trinomials.


Instructional Units: 5