This is a focused collection of notes for a course in college algebra taught at San Jacinto College (Houston, Texas). With only 157 pages, this course covers only the core concepts that every college algebra student should know. In addition to learning algebraic and computational skills, the course is designed for learning how to think mathematically. The chapters on mathematical language and problem-solving highlight this latter objective.

This course is offered to undergraduates and introduces students to the formulation, methodology, and techniques for numerical solution of engineering problems. Topics covered include: fundamental principles of digital computing and the implications for algorithm accuracy and stability, error propagation and stability, the solution of systems of linear equations, including direct and iterative techniques, roots of equations and systems of equations, numerical interpolation, differentiation and integration, fundamentals of finite-difference solutions to ordinary differential equations, and error and convergence analysis. The subject is taught the first half of the term. This class was originally listed in Course 13 (Ocean Engineering) as 13.002J.