Content of Chapter 1, 2, 3 and 4
Mathematical objects: Variables, algebraic expressions, equations, inequalities, rectangular coordinate system, slope, intercepts, functions, systems of
equations.
Techniques:
1. Simplify an algebraic expression: remove groupings and combine like
terms.
2. Evaluate an algebraic expression: use parentheses around negative numbers.
3. Solve a linear equation: isolate the variable, check the answer.
4. Solve a word problem: use letters to denote unknowns.
5. Solve a linear inequality: direction of symbol of inequality, graph the
solution.
6. Solve an absolute value equation: separate into two cases.
7. Give the correspondence between lines on the coordinate system and linear
equations in two variables.
8. Give the correspondence between half-planes on the coordinate system
and linear inequalities in two variables.
9. Evaluate a function: use parentheses around expressions substituted in.
10. Find the new function after shifting and reflecting the graph.
11. Solve a system of linear equations in two variables by substitution or
elimination.
Things won’t be covered in Midterm 1: Absolute value inequalities, sketch
a graph by point-plotting, systems of linear equations in three variables, systems
of linear inequalities and everything the instructor didn’t mention during the
lectures.