Math 380: Elementary Algebra
At College of the Redwoods, Math 380 is the course number for our Elementary Algebra course. The information on this page is designed for use by a number of constituencies:
- instructors of Elementary Algebra,
- students enrolled in Elementary Algebra, and
- all others interested in gathering information about our Elementary Algebra course.
Be sure to visit this page often, as there may be updates to the information provided.
Course Philosophy
- This course is designed to give an introduction to the study of algebra. We begin our exploration of algebraic concepts using graphical, numeric, and analytic methods. Graphing calculators and computer are used to illustrate and investigate the key concepts. Colaborative learning activities will be used to further the understanding of mathematics in real-world settings and assist students in seeing mathematics as a human endevor. Students will learn to communicate algebra in written and verbal formats.
Course Content
Student Information and Help Resources
- Textbook: Customized version of Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, 3rd Ed., by Bittinger, Ellenbogen, and Johnson. This is a custom-published version specifically designed for the Math 380 course at the College of the Redwoods, and it is available only in the college bookstore.
- Math Lab: Math 380L is the Math Lab course for Math 380 students.
- OPTIMATH is our locally-developed online practice and testing system. The portal for OPTIMATH is
http://msenux.redwoods.edu/optimath
For information on how to get started, see the Introduction to OPTIMATH.
Instructor Resources
- Instructor resources are available on our Math Moodle site.