Publication Date
Fall 2016
Document Type
Project Summary
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Mathematics
First Advisor
J. Christopher Tweddle, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Dianna Galante, Ph.D.
Third Advisor
Angela Thompson, Ph.D.
Abstract
Many undergraduate degrees require students to take one or more courses in calculus. Majors in mathematics, science, and engineering are expected to enroll in several rigorous calculus courses, but those majoring in social and behavioral sciences and business must also have some basic understanding of calculus. The goal of this project is to create a web-based tutorial that can be used by the GSU Mathematics faculty to reinforce the algebra skills needed for introductory or Applied Calculus. The tutorial covers the concepts of the slopes of lines, polynomial arithmetic, factoring polynomials, rational expressions, solving quadratic equations, linear and polynomial inequalities, and finding the roots of polynomial equations. The tutorial will also provide sections that review basic algebra concepts such as interval notation, order of operations, laws of exponents, and arithmetic with radicals. Each topic covered will provide a concise description followed by step-by-step instructions, where appropriate, along with numerous examples and illustrations to assist the reader in understanding the concept. The tutorial is run through a web browser and uses HTML along with a LaTeX library called MathJax for displaying mathematical expressions and equations appropriately. Each section will also include links to tools such as Desmos’ online graphing calculator and Khan Academy videos to allow the reader to interact and experiment with algebraic concepts. These included activities are intended to help the student develop a deeper understanding of each topic. Each section will also provide a multitude of practice exercises of varying difficulty along with an answer key. Complete solutions to various problems will also be provided.
Recommended Citation
McKain, Matthew, "Algebra Tutorial for Prospective Calculus Students" (2016). All Capstone Projects. 271.
https://opus.govst.edu/capstones/271