Mathematics

Course Descriptions

The Math diagnostic test administered to students has been created by NSC Math professors and has proven to be a good diagnostic tool. There are two Math diagnostic tests. If a student scores greater than 17 on the first diagnostic test, the second diagnostic test results will factor into the student's placement. For those students who have taken ACT or SAT, NSC also uses those scores.

MATH 093
PRE-ALGEBRA (3+0) 3 credits
A course intended to review arithmetic and to preview elementary algebra.

MATH 097
ELEMENTARY AND INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA (5+0) 5 credits
A one semester course that is equivalent to the combination of MATH 095 (Elementary Algebra) and MATH 096 (Intermediate Algebra). Topics include solving equations in one variable, polynomials, integer exponents, factoring, rational expressions and equations, graphing linear equations in two variables, inequalities, systems of linear equations, radicals and rational exponents, and quadratic equations. Prerequisite(s): MATH 093 or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination.

MATH 120
FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE MATHEMATICS (3+0) 3 credits
Sets, logic; probability, statistics; consumer mathematics; variation; geometry and trigonometry for measurement; linear, quadratic, exponential and logarithmic functions. Emphasis on problem solving and applications. Prerequisite(s): Satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination or Math 96. Credit may not be received for MATH 120 if credit has already been awarded for MATH 128 or above.

MATH 122
NUMBER CONCEPTS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS (3+0) 3 credits Mathematics needed by those teaching new-content mathematics courses at the elementary school level with emphasis on the structure of the real number system and its subsystems. Designed for students seeking a teaching certificate in elementary education. Open to others only with approval. Prerequisite(s): MATH 120 or equivalent.

MATH 123
STATISTICAL AND GEOMETRICAL CONCEPTS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS (3+0) 3 credits
Mathematics needed by those teaching new-content mathematics courses at the elementary school level with emphasis on the concepts in statistics and geometry. Prerequisite(s): MATH 122.

MATH 124
COLLEGE ALGEBRA (3+0) 3 credits
Relations, functions, graphing; equations; linear, quadratic, polynomial systems; matrices and determinants; sequences, mathematical induction, compound interest and amortization, binomial theorem; the complex numbers; logarithms; combinatorics. Prerequisite(s): Mathematics placement examination. (Credit may not be received for MATH 124 if credit has already been awarded for MATH 128.)

MATH 128
PRECALCULUS AND TRIGONOMETRY (5+0) 5 credits
Relations, function, and their graphs; polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions; analytical trigonometry; systems of equations and inequalities; conics; mathematical induction; sequences and series. A combination of MATH 126 and MATH 127. Prerequisite(s): MATH 124, four years of high school mathematics at the level of algebra or above, and a satisfactory score on a math placement test.

MATH 132
FINITE MATHEMATICS (3+0) 3 credits
Topics include symbolic logic, set theory and probability Theory applied to the analysis of business problems. Prerequisite(s): Satisfactory SAT/ACT/CCSN Mathematics Placement Test score or MATH 124 or MATH 128 or equivalent.

MATH 176
ELEMENTS OF CALCULUS (3+0) 3 credits
Fundamental ideas of analytical geometry and calculus, plane coordinates, graphs, functions, limits, derivatives, integrals, the fundamental theorem of calculus, rates, extrema and applications thereof. Prerequisite(s): Satisfactory score on math placement exam or MATH 124. (Credit may not be received for MATH 176 if credit has already been received for MATH 181.)

MATH 181
CALCULUS I (4+0) 4 credits
Fundamental concepts of analytic geometry and calculus; functions, graphs, limits, derivatives and integrals. Prerequisite(s): Satisfactory score on qualifying examination or MATH 128. A student whose current progress is unsatisfactory in the opinion of the instructor may be required to attend supervised study sessions.

MATH 182
CALCULUS II (4+0) 4 credits
Continuation of MATH 181; transcendental functions, methods of integration, conics, vectors. Prerequisite(s): MATH 181. A student whose current progress is unsatisfactory in the opinion of the instructor may be required to attend supervised study sessions.

MATH 283
CALCULUS III (4+0) 4 credits
Continuation of MATH 182; transcendental functions, methods of integration, conics, vectors. Prerequisite(s): MATH 182. A student whose current progress is unsatisfactory in the opinion of the instructor may be required to attend supervised study sessions.

MATH 310
INTRODUCTION TO ANALYSIS I (3+0) 3 credits
A re-examination of the calculus of functions of one-variable: real numbers, convergence, continuity, differentiation and integration. Prerequisite(s): MATH 283.

MATH 314
HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS (3+0) 3 credits
Survey of mathematical developments from ancient times to present. Emphasis on originators, origins and consequences of significant mathematical contributions. Prerequisite(s): MATH 181. (Formerly MATH 301)

MATH 330
LINEAR ALGEBRA I (3+0) 3 credits
Introduction to linear algebra, including matrices and linear transformations, eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Corequisite(s): MATH 182.

MATH 331
GROUPS, RINGS, AND FIELDS (3+0) 3 credits
Elementary structure of groups, rings and fields, including homeomorphisms, automorphisms, normal subgroups, and ideals. Prerequisite(s): MATH 330.

MATH 352
PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS (3+0) 3 credits
Probability experiments; sample spaces, discrete and continuous random variables and distributions; mathematical expectation, central limit theorem; hypothesis testing and linear regression. Prerequisite(s): two semesters of calculus.

MATH 373
THEORY OF POSITIVE INTEGERS (3+0) 3 credits
Mathematical logic, quantifiers, induction, axiomatic development of the theory of positive integers; fundamental theorem of arithmetic. Emphasis is on problem solving and theorem proving. Prerequisite(s): MATH 181 or approval of instructor.

MATH 381
METHODS OF DISCRETE MATHEMATICS (3+0) 3 credits
Quantifiers and logical operators; sets, functions, binary relations, digraphs, and trees; inductive definitions, counting techniques, recurrence systems analysis of algorithms. Prerequisite(s): MATH 182.

MATH 427
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS (3+0) 3 credits
Theory and solution techniques for solving ordinary differential equations with constant and variable coefficients, systems of linear differential equations, and a variety of other methods and applications. Prerequisite(s): MATH 182.

MATH 466
NUMERICAL METHODS I (3+0) 3 credits
Numerical solution of linear systems, including linear programming; iterative solutions of non-linear equations; computation of eigenvalues and eigenvectors, matrix diagonalization. Prerequisite(s): MATH 330 or equivalent.

MATH 475
EUCLIDEAN AND NON-EUCLIDEAN GEOMETRY (3+0) 3 credits
Axiom systems, models, independence, consistency; incidence, distance, between ness, congruence, convexity; inequalities, parallels, perpendiculars, the Klein model; Saccheri quadrilaterals, limit triangles, the non-Euclidean geometry of Bolyai-Lobatchevsky. Prerequisite(s): MATH 373.

MATH 499
INDEPENDENT STUDY 1-3 credits
Indepenent study in selected topics. May be repeated to a maximum of six credits