Introduction to Algebra

Develop a rich understanding of math while you study algebra in a relaxed and supportive environment. This course emphasizes practical math applications of your new algebra skills to help you learn math reasoning in a real-world context and discover solutions to almost any math problem.

Details
Syllabus
Requirements
Instructor
Reviews

Enrollment Options

$149.00

Select Instruction Type:

Self-Guided

3 Months Access

No Instructor. Course begins when you enroll.

Instructor-Moderated

6 Weeks Access

Study online with Instructor moderated discussion boards.

Select Course Start Date:

December 18, 2024

January 15, 2025

February 12, 2025

March 12, 2025

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$149.00

Self-Guided

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Details

This online math course integrates mathematics, specifically algebra with many other areas of study, including history, biology, and geography. You will develop a rich understanding of math while you study algebra right here in a relaxed and supportive learning environment. Its emphasis on practical math applications of your new-found algebraic skills will help you learn math reasoning in a real-world context. As a result, you will acquire a wide variety of basic math skills that will help you find solutions to almost any math problem.

This concise and straightforward course will help you understand some of the most important mathematical concepts of algebra: order of operations, units of measurement, scientific notation, algebraic equations, rational numbers, and fundamental concepts of accounting like calculating simple interest.

By the time you finish this online math course, you will understand how algebra is relevant to every aspect of your daily life!

Syllabus

Lesson 1 - Algebra: Here to Make Life Simpler

Your first lesson introduces Al-jabru, the Arabic word for algebra that means the science of restoration and canceling. You will search for algebraic solutions and learn some definitions, numeric properties, and basic operations that originated from the ancient lands where papyrus was used instead of paper.

Lesson 2 - How Do You Measure Up?

How do calories contribute to weight gain? You will answer this and other questions in this lesson. You will learn the different physical quantities, their units of measurement, and why they're important. You will also learn the difference between mass and weight, and density and weight density.

Lesson 3 - Evaluation Time Again

This lesson focuses on evaluation, but not the type of evaluation your boss might give you. You will learn about algebraic expressions by using the order of operations and the distributive property translation. You will also practice translating word problems into numerical ones.

Lesson 4 - Formula: Another Name for Equation

In this lesson, you will learn formulas for basic shapes: squares and rectangles, triangles, circles, spheres, cylinders, and cubes. You may be thinking, "Is this also a geometry course?" In a way you're correct—some aspects of geometry involve formulas, which people use in everyday life.

Lesson 5 - Balancing Acts: Equations

This lesson will teach you how to balance equations with formulas, such as those used to calculate interest, distance, and temperature. You will also learn how to translate these types of verbal equations into numerical ones. So, this is a chance to hone your mathematic reading skills, too.

Lesson 6 - Investments, Mixtures, and Percentage Changes

In this lesson, you will calculate problems involving percentages, such as how much to invest at different interest rates to obtain optimum interest, and you will learn how to determine a specific quantity of a component of a mixture or solution given specific concentrations.

Lesson 7 - Equate It in Words

The more you practice, the better you will be able to speak the language: the math language. Practice makes perfect! So, in this lesson, you will calculate populations, averages, lengths, and widths. You will also learn how to calculate consecutive integers, including consecutive odd and even integers.

Lesson 8 - Proportions and Variations

In this lesson, you will learn ratios and how to apply them to probability and odds. You will also find out how quantities vary in equations, whether directly or indirectly, and how to apply these variations to scientific laws and equations involving weight, area, and equations of lines.

Lesson 9 - Uniform Linear Motion

This lesson brings you outdoor to solve equations of uniform linear motion, with activities such as jogging, boating, and traveling. You will learn how to calculate distance, rate (speed), and time while going in the same direction, opposite directions, and with wind and water current.

Lesson 10 - Solving Rational Equations

This lesson focuses on using the formula that employs the same concept as the uniform linear motion equation. You will learn to calculate how long it takes to finish a job, how much of the job is done, and at what rate the job is done, depending on the number of people doing the job.

Lesson 11 - Algebraic Rational Equations

Discover some of the natural laws that govern the universe and delve into other physics concepts such as resistance, conductance, focal length, and forces while you learn some history of D-Day.

Lesson 12 - Potpourri of Algebraic Equations

Potpourri, anyone? Test various problem-solving skills while you meet General Sherman and experience the gloominess of the Great Depression.

Requirements

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

PC: Windows 8 or later.
Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Instructor

Barbara Rolston

Barbara Rolston holds a master's degree. Since 1975, she has been taught GED preparatory classes in a variety of settings, including adult schools, community colleges, and large corporations. She also was responsible for administering the GED exam in a correctional facility for two years. Math experience includes tutoring community college students on a wide range of math topics and serving as a math consultant for a nationwide adult student assessment system.

Reviews

Thank you for teaching this class and taking the time to help as needed. I feel a little more confident in helping my daughter with her math homework now. I just got a job with Princeton Review to tutor students on the SAT. Taking this class refreshed my mind enough that I passed the math pre-test in order to get the job.

This was a great course, taught by a knowledgeable instructor. I liked how the subject was put into a context that related to everyday life and was mixed with other subjects to make it more interesting. Thank you for making Algebra as painless as possible!

This course was informative and very useful to me in my future educational endeavors. I loved the instructor's sense of humor and teaching style, she made algebra practical and understandable and took the "fear" out of it.

Thank you for this course. It really was what I was looking for; the format, the time flexibility, and the easy accessibility made all the positive difference for me. Thank you very much!

The class is an algebraic workout doing various problems and review of previous algebra class work. I recommend this course to those who are weak in Algebra.

I really enjoyed this course and I am satisfied with the material covered. Everything was straightforward with good examples. I will recommend this course to friends.

This course really helped me to rethink and improve on skills that I have not used in over 20 years. I took this course a refresher so I can re-test for my math placement. I'm hoping that this course will do that. This course was also very affordable and interesting. At the very least it has taught me some very good core algebra functions and applied them to my life.

Thank you for teaching me this course! I developed new skills as I hoped. Your lessons were very detailed and helped me understand the subject easily.

I would just like to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed taking this course. I have to admit I was a little confounded by some of the problems in the course, but those were the ones that challenged me to think harder.

Thank you Sharon for the opportunity to learn this material with you. It exceeded by expectations, since there was a lot I had forgotten since high school. I really appreciated the real-life examples, and how you were able to explain the mathematical concepts easily.