Week 2 — Readings & Resources · Linear Equations & Inequalities

Course: College Algebra (MATH 120) · Silver Oak University (fictional sample) · Prof. Calloway
Objective covered: Objective 2 — Solve linear equations, linear inequalities, and absolute-value equations and inequalities in one variable, and interpret solutions in context.

How to use this page

Everything here is a link to an external resource — open it in your browser, the same way you'd open a YouTube link. Nothing needs to be downloaded.

This week's load is deliberately light: ~4 short readings + 2–3 videos, grouped by the four ideas from the lecture. Read or watch one item per group and you're ready for the quiz; do all of them and you'll be very comfortable. Total time is roughly 40–55 minutes if you do everything, far less if you pick one per group.

Reading order that matches the lecture: ① solving linear equations → ② linear inequalities + interval notation → ③ absolute-value equations → ④ absolute-value inequalities.

A habit to keep: the AI tutorial this week ends by having you catch a chatbot that forgot to flip the inequality sign. Keep that posture as you read — the tool drafts, you check.

① Solving Linear Equations in One Variable

Maps to Lecture Segments 1–2. The big idea: whatever you do to one side, do to the other — until the variable is alone. Clear fractions, distribute, collect variables on one side.

Reading — "Linear Equations in One Variable" (OpenStax, College Algebra 2e, §2.2)
🔗 https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra-2e/pages/2-2-linear-equations-in-one-variable
Why it's assigned: covers the full solution method (distribute, clear fractions, combine, isolate) with worked examples including equations with variables on both sides and the special cases of identities and contradictions. This is the closest reading match to the lecture.
⏱ ~12 min

Reading — "Linear Equations" (Paul's Online Math Notes — Algebra, §2.2)
🔗 https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/Alg/SolveLinearEqns.aspx
Why it's assigned: a compact, example-heavy page that walks the method step by step — good as a second pass or if the OpenStax treatment felt too long.
⏱ ~8 min

② Linear Inequalities & Interval Notation

Maps to Lecture Segment 3. The sign flip is not optional: multiply or divide by a negative → flip the inequality direction.

Reading — "Linear Inequalities and Absolute Value Inequalities" (OpenStax, College Algebra 2e, §2.7 — linear inequalities portion)
🔗 https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra-2e/pages/2-7-linear-inequalities-and-absolute-value-inequalities
Why it's assigned: starts with interval notation, then works through linear inequalities with clear tables showing bracket vs. parenthesis and several worked examples including sign-flip cases. One reading covers both linear inequalities and absolute-value inequalities (groups ② and ④).
⏱ ~15 min (read the whole page for ② and ④ together)

Reading — "Linear Inequalities" (Paul's Online Math Notes — Algebra, §2.11)
🔗 https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/Alg/SolveLinearInequalities.aspx
Why it's assigned: tight, focused treatment of the sign-flip rule with multiple worked examples; good for extra practice with the notation.
⏱ ~7 min

③ Absolute-Value Equations

Maps to Lecture Segment 5. Always check the sign of a before splitting: if a < 0 → no solution; if a ≥ 0 → split into two cases.

Reading — "Absolute Value Equations" (Paul's Online Math Notes — Algebra, §2.14)
🔗 https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/Alg/SolveAbsValueEqns.aspx
Why it's assigned: clear explanation of the split rule, the no-solution case when a < 0, and several worked examples with expressions inside the absolute value bars.
⏱ ~8 min

Video — "Introduction to Linear Equations (TTP Video 5)" (Professor Leonard)
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1V9b3jKKBs
Why it earns the click: an unhurried, board-worked walkthrough of the linear-equation method — ideal if you want to see every algebra step, including fraction clearing.
⏱ ~20 min (skim to the parts you need)

④ Absolute-Value Inequalities

Maps to Lecture Segment 6. "Less than" → AND → bounded middle interval. "Greater than" → OR → two outer rays. Picture the number line first; the rule follows.

Reading — "Absolute Value Inequalities" (Paul's Online Math Notes — Algebra, §2.15)
🔗 https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/Alg/SolveAbsValueIneq.aspx
Why it's assigned: walks through the AND/OR rules with number-line pictures and worked examples, including the classic "and vs. or" confusion. Strongly recommended for cementing the concept before the quiz.
⏱ ~8 min

(The OpenStax §2.7 page listed in group ② also covers absolute-value inequalities — if you read that page, you have group ④ covered too.)

Optional one-stop reference (free online)

If you'd like one optional reference to return to all term, Paul's Online Math Notes — Algebra keeps a full, free set of notes online, and Professor Leonard's College Algebra playlist has full-length lectures for every topic in this course.
🔗 Paul's Algebra notes: https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/classes/alg/alg.aspx
🔗 Professor Leonard — College Algebra / Trigonometry playlist: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDesaqWTN6ESsmwELdrzhcGiRhk5DjwLP
Why they're here: reputable, currently-available references you can come back to in later weeks — entirely optional this week.

Pick-one quick path (≈20 min total)

In a hurry? Do exactly these and you'll be ready for the quiz:
1. Read OpenStax §2.2 — Linear Equations (group ①).
2. Read OpenStax §2.7 — Inequalities & Absolute Value (groups ② and ④).
3. Read Paul's §2.14 — Absolute Value Equations (group ③).

Heads-up (links rot): these point to outside sites that occasionally move or rename pages. If a link ever fails, tell Prof. Calloway and use the Paul's Online Math Notes reference above in the meantime.