GENERAL AND SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES IN MATHEMATICS II

(Intermediate Algebra)

A. Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities

1. Demonstrate knowledge and skill in solving systems of linear equations in

two variables and apply these in solving problems

1.1 define a system of linear equations in two variables

1.2 solve systems of linear equations in two variables

1.2.1 given a pair of linear equations in two variables, identify those

whose graphs

• intersect
• coincide
• are parallel

1.2.2 given a system of linear equations in two variables, find the

solution graphically (i.e. by drawing the graphs and obtaining
the coordinates of the intersection)

4.3 given a system of linear equations in two variables, find the

solution graphically:

• by elimination
• by substitution

5.3 use systems of linear equations to solve problems (e.g. number

relations, uniform motion, geometric relations, mixture, investment,
work)

2. Demonstrate knowledge and skill in solving a system of linear inequalities

by graphing

2.1 define a system of linear inequalities

2.2 translate certain situations in real life to linear inequalities

2.3 draw the graph of a linear inequality in two variables

2.4 represent the solution set of a system of linear inequalities by

graphing

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B. Quadratic Equations

1. Demonstrate knowledge and skill in solving quadratic equations and ability

to apply in solving problems

1.1 distinguish a quadratic equation from a linear equation

1.2 find the solution set of a quadratic equation

1.2.1 determine the solution set of a quadratic equation

ax 2 + bx + c = 0 by algebraic methods:

• factoring
• quadratic formula
• completing the square

1.2.2 derive the quadratic formula

1.3 solve rational equations which can be reduced to quadratic equations

1.4 use quadratic equations to solve problems

C. Rational Algebraic Expressions

1. Demonstrate knowledge and skill in simplifying and performing operations

on rational algebraic expressions and apply these in solving problems

1.1 define:

• rational algebraic expression

• domain of a rational algebraic expression

1.2 translate verbal expressions into rational algebraic expressions

1.3 simplify rational algebraic expressions(reduce to lowest terms)

1.4 perform operations on rational algebraic expressions

• addition
• subtraction
• multiplication
• division

1.5 simplify complex rational algebraic expressions

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 1.6 solve rational equations and check for extraneous solutions

1.7 solve problems involving rational algebraic expressions

D. Variation

1. Demonstrate knowledge of variation relationships and apply these in

solving problems

1.1 identify relationships in real life that are:

• direct variation
• direct square variations
• inverse variations
• joint variations

1.2 represent the following relationships as equations:

• “_____ is directly proportional to _____”

• “_____ is inversely proportional to _____”
• “_____ varies directly as _____”
• “_____ varies directly as the square of _____”
• “_____ varies inversely as _____”

1.3 solve equations on:

• direct variations
• direct square variation
• inverse variation
• joint variation

E. Integral Exponents

1. Demonstrate knowledge and skill in simplifying expressions with integral

exponents and apply these in the solution of problems

1.1 demonstrate understanding of expressions with:

• positive exponents
• negative exponents
• zero exponents

1.2 evaluate numerical expressions involving integral exponents

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 1.3 rewrite algebraic expressions with zero and negative exponents

1.4 solve problems involving expressions with exponents

F. Radical Expressions

1. Demonstrate knowledge and skill in simplifying, performing operations and

solving equations and problems involving radical expressions

1.1 identify expressions which are perfect squares or perfect cubes

1.2 find the square root or cube root of expressions

1.3 given a number in the form n x where x is not a perfect nth root,
name two rational numbers between which it lies

1.4 use laws of exponents to simplify expressions containing rational

exponents

1.5 rewrite expressions with rational exponents as radical expressions

and vice versa

1.6 simplify the radical expression n

x in such a way that the radicand
contains no perfect nth root

1.7 rationalize a fraction whose denominator contains square roots

1.8 perform operations on radical expressions

• addition
• subtraction
• multiplication
• division

1.9 solve radical equations

1.10 solve problems involving radical equations

G. Searching for Patterns in Sequences, Arithmetic, Geometric and Others

1. Demonstrate knowledge and skill related to arithmetic sequence and

apply these in solving problems

1.1 list the next few terms of a sequence given several consecutive terms

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 1.2 derive, by pattern-searching, a mathematical expression (rule) for
generating the sequence

1.3 describe an arithmetic sequence by any of the following ways:

• giving the first few terms

• giving the formula for the nth term
• drawing the graph

1.4 given the first few terms of an arithmetic sequence, find the:

• common difference
• nth term

1.5 given two terms of an arithmetic sequence, find: the first term; the
common difference or a specified nth term

1.6 solve problems involving arithmetic means

1.7 derive the formula for the sum of the n terms of an arithmetic
sequence

1.8 define the sum of an arithmetic sequence

1.9 solve problems involving arithmetic sequences

2. Demonstrate knowledge and skill related to geometric sequence and

apply these in solving problems

2.1 describe a geometric sequence in any of the following ways:

• giving the first few terms of the sequence

• giving the formula for the nth term
• drawing the graph

2.2 given the first few terms of a geometric sequence, find the:

• common ratio
• nth term

2.3 given two specified terms of a geometric sequence, find the:

• first term
• common ratio

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2.4 solve problems involving geometric means

2.5 derive the formula for the sum of the terms of a geometric sequence

2.6 find the sum of the terms of a geometric sequence

2.7 derive the formula for an infinite geometric series

2.8 solve problems involving geometric sequences

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