About

Make sense of Algebra II in the company of award-winning Professor James A. Sellers. Algebra II gives you all the tools you need to thrive in a core skill of mathematics. In 36 engaging half-hour episodes designed for learners of all ages, Professor Sellers walks you through hundreds of problems, showing every step in their solution and highlighting the most common missteps made by students.

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Episodes

1. An Introduction to Algebra II

32m

Professor Sellers explains the topics covered in the series, the importance of algebra, and how you can get the most out of these episodes. Then, launch into the fundamentals of algebra by reviewing the order of operations and trying your hand at several problems.

2. Solving Linear Equations

31m

Explore linear equations, starting with one-step equations and then advancing to those requiring two or more steps to solve. Next, apply the distributive property to simplify certain problems, and then learn about the three categories of linear equations.

3. Solving Equations Involving Absolute Values

31m

Taking your knowledge of linear equations a step further, look at examples involving absolute values, which can be thought of as a distance on a number line, always expressed as a positive value. Use your critical thinking skills to recognize absolute value problems that have limited or no solutions.

4. Linear Equations and Functions

29m

Moving into the visual realm, learn how linear equations are represented as straight lines on graphs using either the slope-intercept or point-slope forms of the function. Next, investigate parallel and perpendicular lines and how to identify them by the value of their slopes.

5. Graphing Essentials

29m

Reversing the procedure from the previous episode, start with an equation and draw the line that corresponds to it. Then test your knowledge by matching four linear equations to their graphs. Finally, learn how to rewrite an equation to move its graph up, down, left, or right, or by flipping it entirely.

6. Functions - Introduction, Examples, Terminology

31m

Functions are crucially important not only for algebra, but for precalculus, calculus, and higher mathematics. Learn the definition of a function, the notation, and associated concepts such as domain and range. Then try out the vertical line test for determining whether a given curve is a graph of a function.

7. Systems of 2 Linear Equations, Part 1

29m

Practice solving systems of two linear equations by graphing the corresponding lines and looking for the intersection point. Discover that there are three possible outcomes: no solution, infinitely many solutions, and exactly one solution.

8. Systems of 2 Linear Equations, Part 2

30m

Explore two other techniques for solving systems of two linear equations. First, the method of substitution solves one of the equations and substitutes the result into the other. Second, the method of elimination adds or subtracts the equations to see if a variable can be eliminated.

9. Systems of 3 Linear Equations

31m

As the number of variables increases, it becomes unwieldy to solve systems of linear equations by graphing. Learn that these problems are not as hard as they look and that systems of three linear equations often yield to the strategy of successively eliminating variables.

10. Solving Systems of Linear Inequalities

29m

Make the leap into systems of linear inequalities, where the solution is a set of values on one side or another of a graphed line. An inequality is an assertion such as "less than" or "greater than," which encompasses a range of values.

Extended Details

SeriesAlgebra II

Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

The Great CoursesDirector

The Great CoursesProducer

James A. SellersActor