Guidelines for Taking Pre-Calculus Courses

These guidelines are intended to help students should they decide to take a pre-calculus
course at another college other than NJIT. The skills listed below are those that are
covered in the respective NJIT courses.

Students may take pre-calculus courses in lieu of Math 098/099 or Math 106/108 at other
colleges provided that the course content approximates NJIT course criteria. It must be
noted that courses must not be calculator-based. Students must be able to competently
perform computations associated with the skills listed below without the aid of a
calculator. Should a student earn a C or better in an equivalent course, NJIT will accept
the credit and allow the student to move to the next level of mathematics.

A course is equivalent to NJIT Math 099, “Introduction to College Math A” or 098,
“Introduction to College Math B” if the content is as follows:

1. Find the least common denominator for arithmetic and algebraic fractions.
2. Combine and simplify arithmetic and algebraic fractions
3. Solve a system of two linear equations in two unknowns
4. Solve quadratic equations by factoring, and by using the quadratic formula
5. Solve a system of two equations in two unknowns when one of the unknowns is linear
and the other is quadratic.
6. Sketch the graphs of straight lines and parabolas when given their equations.
7. Expand and simplify the products of binomials containing radicals and/or algebraic
expressions with fractional exponents.
8. Expand and simplify the squares of binomials containing radicals and/or algebraic
expressions
9. Put an equation containing one linear variable and one quadratic variable without any
product terms into the standard equation of a parabola using the technique of “completing
the square”
10. Find the equation of a straight line determined by two given points, or one point and
the line’s slope.
11. Find and simplify an expression for the distance between two given points in a plane.
12. Sketch and find the area of rectangles and triangles when given the coordinates of
their vertices.
13. Simplify complex radical expressions. .

A course is equivalent to NJIT Math 106, “University Mathematics I A” or 108
“University Mathematics IB” if the content is a follows:

Note: These courses must not be calculator based, in that students must be able to
competently perform computations associated with the skills listed below without the aid
of a calculator.

1. Solve systems of two equations in two unknowns.
2. Solve systems of three equations in three unknowns when all variables are linear.
3. Solve systems of three equations in three unknowns when two variables are linear and
the other is quadratic.
4. Polynomial division
5. Factoring Cubic Equations when one root is given using the Root Factor Theorem
6. Use the basic rules of logarithms to simplify expressions containing logarithms and
exponentials.
7. Solving Quadratic Inequalities in one variable, using the technique of “Completing
the Square
8. Sketch the graphs of Parabolas given a general equation with one variable linear and
the other quadratic.
9. Working with: The Point Slope Formula of a Line, the Two Point Formula of a line,
and the Intercept Formula of a Line.
10. Simplifying complex algebraic radical expressions, and algebraic expressions with
fractional and negative exponents.
11. Right triangle trigonometry, and working the Pythagorean Trigonometric Identities.
12. Solving equations containing the square roots of algebraic expressions.
13. Squaring and simplifying binomials containing trigonometric and or algebraic
expressions.
14. Radian measure, working with formulas for the Arc Length on a Circle , Angular
Velocity of a rotating wheel, and the Linear Velocity of a point on the rim of a rotating
wheel.