College Algebra 2e with Corequisite Support

College Algebra 2e with Corequisite Support integrates comprehensive algebraic principles with effective foundational review. Each textbook section is paired with a thoughtfully developed, topically aligned skills module that prepares students for the course material. The modules include conceptual overviews, worked examples, and guided practice; they incorporate relevant material from OpenStax’s Developmental Math series.

To offer the most flexibility as possible, the material within College Algebra 2e with Corequisite Support will be available in several formats. The skills modules can be downloaded and/or printed for use in classes, workshops, or tutoring sessions, and will be provided as both Word and PDF files.

The College Algebra 2e with Corequisite Support revision focused on improving relevance and representation as well as mathematical clarity and accuracy. Introductory narratives, examples, and problems were reviewed and revised using a diversity, equity, and inclusion framework. Many contexts, scenarios, and images have been changed to become even more relevant to students’ lives and interests. To maintain our commitment to accuracy and precision, examples, exercises, and solutions were reviewed by multiple faculty experts. All improvement suggestions and errata updates from the first edition were considered and unified across the different formats of the text. The first edition of College Algebra with Corequisite Support by OpenStax is available in web view here.

Introduction to Prerequisites

It’s a cold day in Antarctica. In fact, it’s always a cold day in Antarctica. Earth’s southernmost continent, Antarctica experiences the coldest, driest, and windiest conditions known. The coldest temperature ever recorded, over one hundred degrees below zero on the Celsius scale, was recorded by remote satellite. It is no surprise then, that no native human population can survive the harsh conditions. Only explorers and scientists brave the environment for any length of time.

Measuring and recording the characteristics of weather conditions in Antarctica requires a use of different kinds of numbers. For tens of thousands of years, humans have undertaken methods to tally, track, and record numerical information. While we don’t know much about their usage, the Lebombo Bone (dated to about 35,000 BCE) and the Ishango Bone (dated to about 20,000 BCE) are among the earliest mathematical artifacts. Found in Africa, their clearly deliberate groupings of notches may have been used to track time, moon cycles, or other information. Performing calculations with them and using the results to make predictions requires an understanding of relationships among numbers. In this chapter, we will review sets of numbers and properties of operations used to manipulate numbers. This understanding will serve as prerequisite knowledge throughout our study of algebra and trigonometry.

Real Numbers: Algebra Essentials

Learning Objectives

In this section, you will:
Classify a real number as a natural, whole, integer, rational, or irrational number.
Perform calculations using order of operations.
Use the following properties of real numbers: commutative, associative, distributive, inverse, and identity.
Evaluate algebraic expressions.
Simplify algebraic expressions.
Identify the study skills leading to success in a college level mathematics course.
Reflect on your past math experiences and create a plan for improvement.

Objective 1: Identify the study skills leading to success in a college level mathematics course.

Welcome to your algebra course! This course will be challenging so now is the time to set up a plan for success. In this first chapter we will focus on important strategies for success including: math study skills, time management, note taking skills, smart test taking strategies, and the idea of a growth mindset. Each of these ideas will help you to be successful in your college level math course whether you are enrolled in a face-to-face traditional section or an online section virtual section.