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Chapter 1 - Equations, Inequalities, Problem Solving
- Introduction
- 1.1 – Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
- 1.1 – Homework
- 1.1 – Quiz
- 1.1 – Additional Problems
- 1.2 – The Addition Principle of Equations
- 1.2 – Homework
- 1.2 – Quiz
- 1.2 – Additional Problems
- 1.3 – The Multiplication Principle of Equations
- 1.3 – Homework
- 1.3 – Quiz
- 1.3 – Additional Problems
- 1.4 – Solving Linear Equations
- 1.4 – Homework
- 1.4 – Quiz
- 1.4 – Additional Problems
- 1.5 – Problem Solving
- 1.5 – Homework
- 1.5 – Quiz
- 1.5 – Additional Problems
- 1.6 – Formulas
- 1.6 – Homework
- 1.6 – Quiz
- 1.6 – Additional Problems
- 1.7 – Percents
- 1.7 – Homework
- 1.7 – Quiz
- 1.7 – Additional Problems
- 1.8 – Problems Involving Two Unknowns
- 1.8 – Homework
- 1.8 – Quiz
- 1.8 – Additional Problems
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Assessment 1
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Chapter 2 - Linear Inequalities and Absolute Value
- 2.1 – Linear Inequalities in One Variable
- 2.1 – Homework
- 2.1 – Quiz
- 2.1 – Additional Problems
- 2.2 – Applications of Linear Inequalities
- 2.2 – Homework
- 2.2 – Quiz
- 2.2 – Additional Problems
- 2.3 – Sets and Compound Inequalities
- 2.3 – Homework
- 2.3 – Quiz
- 2.3 – Additional Problems
- 2.4 – Equations with Absolute Values
- 2.4 – Homework
- 2.4 – Quiz
- 2.4 – Additional Problems
- 2.5 – Absolute Value Inequalities
- 2.5 – Homework
- 2.5 – Quiz
- 2.5 – Additional Problems
- 2.6 – Functions
- 2.6 – Homework
- 2.6 – Quiz
- 2.6 – Additional Problems
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Assessment 2
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Chapter 3 - Linear Equations with Two Variables
- 3.1 – Graphs and the Rectangular Coordinate system
- 3.1 – Homework
- 3.1 – Quiz
- 3.1 – Additional Problems
- 3.2 – Graphing Linear Equations
- 3.2 – Homework
- 3.2 – Quiz
- 3.2 – Additional Problems
- 3.3 – Graphing Using Intercepts
- 3.3 – Homework
- 3.3 – Quiz
- 3.3 – Additional Problems
- 3.4 – Slope and Rate of Change
- 3.4 – Homework
- 3.4 – Quiz
- 3.4 – Additional Problems
- 3.5 – Equations of Lines
- 3.5 – Homework
- 3.5 – Quiz
- 3.5 – Additional Problems
- 3.6 – Approximate Linear Relationships
- 3.6 – Homework
- 3.6 – Quiz
- 3.6 – Additional Problems
- 3.7 – Graphing Linear Inequalities of Two Variables
- 3.7 – Homework
- 3.7 – Quiz
- 3.7 – Additional Problems
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Assessment 3
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Chapter 4 - Systems of Linear Equations
- 4.1 – Solving a 2×2 System by Graphing
- 4.1 – Homework
- 4.1 – Quiz
- 4.1 – Additional Problems
- 4.2 – Solving a 2×2 System by Substitution
- 4.2 – Homework
- 4.2 – Quiz
- 4.2 – Additional Problems
- 4.3 – Addition/Elimination Method
- 4.3 – Homework
- 4.3 – Quiz
- 4.3 – Additional Problems
- 4.4 – Applications of Systems of Equations
- 4.4 – Homework
- 4.4 – Quiz
- 4.4 – Additional Problems
- 4.5 – Solving Systems using Matrices
- 4.5 – Homework
- 4.5 – Quiz
- 4.5 – Additional Problems
- 4.6 – Graphing Systems of Linear Inequalities in Two Variables
- 4.6 – Homework
- 4.6 – Quiz
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Assessment 4
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Chapter 5 - Exponents, Radicals and Polynomials
- 5.1 – Exponent Properties
- 5.1 – Homework
- 5.1 – Quiz
- 5.2 – Scientific Notation
- 5.2 – Homework
- 5.2 – Quiz
- 5.2 – Additional Problems
- 5.3 – Radicals
- 5.3 – Homework
- 5.3 – Quiz
- 5.3 – Additional Problems
- 5.4 – Simplifying Radicals
- 5.4 – Homework
- 5.4 – Quiz
- 5.4 – Additional Problems
- 5.5 – Problem Solving using Radical Equations
- 5.5 – Homework
- 5.5 – Quiz
- 5.5 – Additional Problems
- 5.6 – Polynomials
- 5.6 – Homework
- 5.6 – Quiz
- 5.6 – Additional Problems
- 5.7 – Factoring Polynomials
- 5.7 – Homework
- 5.7 – Quiz
- 5.7 – Additional Problems
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Assessment 5
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Chapter 6 - Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
- 6.1 – Exponential Functions
- 6.1 – Homework
- 6.1 – Quiz
- 6.1 – Additional Problems
- 6.2 – Applications of Exponential Functions
- 6.2 – Homework
- 6.2 – Quiz
- 6.2 – Additional Problems
- 6.3 – Logarithmic Functions
- 6.3 – Homework
- 6.3 – Quiz
- 6.3 – Additional Problems
- 6.4 – Common Logarithms
- 6.4 – Homework
- 6.4 – Quiz
- 6.5 – Natural Logarithms
- 6.5 – Homework
- 6.5 – Quiz
- 6.6 – Solving Exponential Equations
- 6.6 – Homework
- 6.6 – Quiz
- 6.6 – Additional Problems
- 6.7 – Solving Logarithmic Equations
- 6.7 – Homework
- 6.7 – Quiz
- 6.7 – Additional Problems
- 6.8 – Applications of Logarithmic Functions
- 6.8 – Homework
- 6.8 – Quiz
- 6.8 – Additional Problems
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Assessment 6
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Final Exam
1.1 – Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
Algebraic Expressions
We begin our exploration of Algebra with Algebraic Expressions. These are the ways that we mathematically describe something, whether we are dealing with a complex mathematical model, or a simple addition of two items, we describe the situation with expressions. Some expressions can be simplified from the way that they are presented to us. This is the idea of simplifying an algebraic expression. We will start talking about simplifying algebraic expressions with a discussion of Terms.
Terms
A Term is a number, or the product of numbers and variables. Examples of Terms are:
Each of these terms has two parts. The first is the numerical coefficient, often referred to simply as the coefficient. This is the number that is multiplied as part of the term. The numerical coefficient of the term is 15.
The numerical coefficient of the term is 1. (If there is not a number written, it is assumed to be the number 1)
The numerical coefficient of the term is
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The second part of each term is the variable(s). Some terms may not have variables written. A variable is not a necessary part of a term. The variables are typically written with letters, to indicate a number that is either unknown, or a number that might change.
Find the coefficient and variables of the term ![]() |
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The coefficient of this term is ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Find the coefficient and variables of the term ![]() |
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The coefficient of the term is 1, and the variables are ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Two or more terms are called Like Terms if they have the same variable(s) with the same exponents. The variables need not be in the same order, but the exponents have to match exactly. Examples of like terms are:
Unlike terms are terms that don’t have the same variables with the same exponents.
Are the terms ![]() ![]() |
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No, the exponents do not exactly match. |
Are the terms ![]() ![]() |
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Yes! The variables are written in a different order, but they are the same, and their exponents match. |
Combining Like Terms
When we have like terms in an algebraic expression, we can often combine them together. We can do this because of the distributive property.
THE DISTRIBUTIVE PROPERTY |
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Typically, we see this property as it is written above, and use it from left to right. But an equation can also be used from right to left. Doing this will allow us to see why like terms can be combined. |
Combine like terms: ![]() |
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Applying the distributive property from right to left, we can see that ![]() ![]() But we can see that we can add 3 and 7 together: ![]() And we can write the result with the numerical coefficient in front as ![]() |
We, of course, don’t have to write this process out with so many steps every time we do it. We can simply know that the distributive property is at play here, and quickly combine like terms in our head (as long as the coefficients are not horrible).
Combine like terms: ![]() |
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Because the terms are like, we can simply add, as we did previously, the coefficients together. We combine to have ![]() |
All terms in an expression need not necessarily be like terms. If this is the case, we will simply combine those that are like.
Combine like terms: ![]() |
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We see that there are two ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Combine like terms: ![]() |
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We combine the ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Using the distributive property as written should also not be forgotten. It can be used to remove parentheses to free terms.
Combine like terms: ![]() |
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Here, our like terms are stuck in separate parentheses. We can free them by applying the distributive property first:
![]() ![]() Our terms are now free to combine. The like terms are not next to each other, but due to the commutative property of addition, we can add in whatever order we like. Our result: ![]() |
Apply the distributive property and then combine like terms ![]() |
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Note that the negative in front of the first parentheses must be distributed through. We can think of this as distributing a negative 1 throughout the first parentheses.
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Writing English Phrases as Algebraic Expressions
The biggest goal of math courses like the one you are in are to bring some sort of mathematical ability into the real world. Part of being able to use math in the real world requires you to be able to easily move between English (at least, if you are reading this book) and Mathematical notation.
Write “the sum of a number and five” in mathematical notation |
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We have a sum, and one of the numbers is unknown. When this is the case, we can input a variable for the unknown. Our mathematical expression is then ![]() |
Write “Three less than an unknown” in mathematical notation |
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This is written as ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Write “four more than the product of three and an unknown” in mathematical notation |
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Write as a mathematical expression, then simplify the result: “six added to the product of four and the sum of a number and two” |
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