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In the United States college algebra is a course that covers things like the quadratic formula, solving basic exponential equations and things like that.

• thaumasiotes 8y ago
  That's not true "in the United States". It's a euphemistic choice by colleges that are ashamed to say "remedial algebra". The same course is called "algebra" when you take it in middle school, "algebra" when you take it in high school, and "college algebra" (apparently) when you take it as a college graduation requirement. On the other hand, colleges do offer a different course called "algebra", which introduces group theory and is nothing like grade school algebra. >> there can be no more than one precollege level math course before being allowed to take college algebra The way you've defined "college algebra", it is a precollege level math course.
  • skh 8y ago
    Well, I teach college algebra a lot and I teach it in the United States. I’m telling you what that term means in the United States. I don’t know what it means outside of the United States. Beginning Algebra and Intermmediate Algebra are the names for courses that cover basic algebraic topics at the pre college level. Do you think I’m lying or otherwise wrong? Go to the American version of Amazon.com and search for college algebra textbooks. Look at the table of contents and you’ll see that my description is accurate. In the United States courses that teach basic ring theory and group theory are usually called Modern Algebra or Abstract Algebra. You appear to have an axe to grind. Your apparent anger is misplaced. We are just discussing the names of things and not on the merit of those things.
    • thaumasiotes 8y ago
      What do you think the difference in curriculum is between "college algebra" and "remedial algebra"? Why do you believe I'm outside the United States? You don't appear to be qualified to speak for "the United States". > We are just discussing the names of things and not on the merit of those things. The name "college algebra" is a pretty transparent attempt to attribute spurious merit to the course. Imagine you see a course catalog offering "physics" and "college physics". Which one would you assume is the college-level course?
      • skh 8y ago
        I don’t know anything about you and haven’t I indicated a belief about where you are. All I’m doing is tellling you what the phrase “college algebra” refers to in the context of the U.S. higher education system. In a nutshell all I’m saying is that if you buy a textbook with the phrase “college algebra” in it's title and it's from an American publisher it's not going to contain information on the Sylow Theorems. I’m just trying to save you possible future heartache. I would feel bad if you bought a College Algebra textbook in the U.S. expecting it to be about ring theory or group theory. Whatever the merits of the course are or the lack of insight I possess just keep in mind to check the table of contents to make sure the book's content matches what you think its title should mean.