<p>Well after meeting with my counselor and discussing my situation, we came to the conclusion that my best option would be to try and place out of geometry and intermediate algebra, and start college algebra this spring semester. This would get me right on track, and allow me to finish the full calculus sequence plus differential equations, as well as the full calculus based physics sequence, all within two more academic years.</p>
<p>This means that I’ve got winter break to essentially teach myself geometry and intermediate algebra, and retake the placement test right before next semester starts. What areas should I focus on?</p>
<p>What topics are introduced in intermediate algebra? The SVCC website states that… </p>
<p>“This course assumes familiarity with material in MAT 074. Topics extended to an intermediate level include: real numbers and expressions, equations and inequalities, graphing methods, polynomials and factoring, rational expressions, radicals, quadratic equations, and systems of equations. New topics include: functions and their graphs, radicals and complex numbers, quadratic and rational inequalities, graphs of second degree equations and variation.”</p>
<p>In what ways are the topics expanded? What, specifically, should I be focusing on? What areas would be most crucial for the new topics? I’ll have my work cut out for me, but it’ll be well worth it when I pull it off. Any tips would be much appreciated. :)</p>
<p>My counselor recommended using the Kahn Academy website, which I’ve already used quite a bit the last couple days…there are a lot of great tutorial videos on there. I’ve also bought “Bob Millers Math for the Accuplacer” which is designed for increasing placement test scores, and I bought “Cliffsnotes: Algebra II” which seems to be a very helpful book.</p>