The concepts of algebraic manipulations of equations, exponential equations, logarithms and mathematical modeling will be emphasized. Students will analyze trends and current problems using graphs, spreadsheets, Internet resources, and financial equations. Course topics will include time value of money, simple and compound interest, ordinary annuities, sinking funds, amortization, stocks and bonds. The course will review some basic algebra and cover more-advanced algebra topics and techniques, for instance, solving difficult fractional equations, unusual factoring, and inserting factors or terms. In addition, it will explore functions and their graphs, exponential and logarithmic functions, complex numbers, systems of equations, limits, and the conic sections.
Statistical software is utilized.
This course is devoted to a study of plane trigonometry. Formal topics include solution of right and oblique triangles, trigonometric identities and equations, graphing trigonometric functions, inverse trigonometric functions, and applied problems. This course will focus on the use of microcomputers and the various applications useful in the sciences. Additionally, students will work with word processing, presentation graphics and authoring on the World Wide Web. Applications are drawn from different areas in science with emphasis on the environmental sciences.