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University of Southern Maine
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MAT 100: Mathematics Bridge

This guide provides videos and other resources to aid students in MAT 100.

MAT 100 Mathematics Bridge covers foundational math concepts, including study skills, numeracy, ratio and proportion, basic algebra and graphing, rational and radical expressions, and an introduction to probability. You must get a grade of C or better to take subsequent math courses.

Videos

Simplifying Expressions

This video is a basic review of simplifying algebraic expressions. It explains how to simplify algebraic expressions with parentheses and variables by using the distributive property and by combining like terms.

Solving One Variable Equations

2-Video Playlist

Solving linear equations in one variable: This video reviews solving linear equations in one variable. This video combines skills such as the addition property of equality, the multiplication property of equality, and solving single step equations. The video uses a four step method to solve one variable equation: first, you simplify each side separately, then move all variable terms to one side and all constants to the other side, thirdly isolate the variable, and finally check the results using substitution.

Solving 2 step, one variable equations: This quick video goes over how to solve simple one variable equations. It explains how you must isolate “x” by first moving any terms without variables to the opposite side of the equation by addition or subtraction, and then dividing over the term with the variable in order to isolate x.

Solving Percent Equations

2-Video Playlist

Using equations to solve percent problems This video shows how to use an equation to solve a percent problem as an alternative to using proportions to solve percent problems. The video shows nine problems with increasing difficulty. It starts with integers and then goes on to mixed numbers and decimals.

Solving percent equations: This video goes over how to solve basic percent word problems by translating percent statements into an equation. It explains how the word “of” typically translates to multiplication, the word “is” is going to translate into an equal sign, and the phrase “out of” typically translates to division. It then goes on to say that the unknown in a word problem, such as “what” or “what number” translates to x.