First Year Math

At UW Bothell, we offer three different precalculus classes to help students prepare for calculus and five different calculus classes. The classes that you have to take depend on the majors you are interested in, any minors that you are interested in, your plans after graduation (like going to medical school), and your current comfort level with math.

Unsure of which to take? Start with the Directed Self-Placement Test here.

Math Courses

BMATH 121 Alegraic and Quantitative Reasoning (5) QSR

In BMATH 121, we explore how numbers can be used to inform our decisions about everyday life. Using numbers to make decisions is called quantitative reasoning. We develop our quantitative reasoning skills in topics related to financial and health decisions as well as social and environmental issues. We use an activity-based approach to explore numerical concepts, graphical displays of data, proportional relationships, equations, functions, linear and exponential models and other mathematical models. We develop conceptual and procedural tools that support the use of key mathematical concepts in a variety of contexts, while practicing important mathematical skills.

BMATH 122 Precalculus I: Algebraic Functions (5) QSR

BMATH 122 is the first part of our Precalculus sequence. The topics covered in this class are sometimes called College Algebra. In this class we introduce functions, focusing on linear, quadratic, polynomial, and rational functions. We explore the four ways of representing functions (equations, graphs, tables, and verbal descriptions). We learn to graph these functions, solve equations involving these functions, and solve and interpret contextual problems. In this course we practice many of the skills that will be used in BMATH 123, which is the second part of our Precalculus sequence.

BMATH 123 Precalculus II: Transcendental Functions (5) QSR

BMATH 123 is the last class that students take before they take calculus (either BMATH 144 or STMATH 124). The first chapter covers functions generally. A few of the topics in this chapter are average rate of change, inverse functions and transformations of functions. The next chapter focuses on exponential functions and logarithmic functions. In this chapter, we spend a lot of time working with exponent rules and log rules. We also spend a lot of time on modeling. The last section of the course focuses on trigonometry. We will learn about the unit circle, right triangle trigonometry, the graphs of trig functions, simplifying trigonometric expressions and solving trigonometric equations.

BMATH 144 Calculus for the Life & Social Sciences (5) NW, QSR

BMATH 144 is an introduction to differential and integral calculus using real-world applications drawn from life and social sciences, and business. At the beginning of the term, we focus on limits, continuity, average rate of change, and introduce the concept of a derivative. We also learn techniques for differentiating power functions and composite functions. Next, we use the derivative of a function to determine the properties of the graph of the function, specifically focusing on finding maxima and minima. Then, we move to applications of differentiation involving logarithmic and exponential functions. Then, the focus shifts to computing antiderivatives and developing an understanding of the concept of integration. Lastly, we learn about applications of integration.

STMATH 124 Calculus I (5) NW, QSR

STMATH 124 is the first course in the calculus sequence and it focuses on differential calculus. The first chapter covers limits and continuity. In the second chapter, we learn about the concept of a derivative, as well as all of the techniques for differentiating many functions, including power, trigonometric, composite, logarithmic, exponential, and inverse trigonometric functions. We also learn how to solve related-rates problems. The third chapter focuses on applications of the derivative. We spend a lot of time learning how to use information from the first derivative to how to graph a function, including how to find the maxima and minima. This chapter also focuses on modeling and using calculus to solve real-world problems.

Questions about Math, or choosing a course?

Send an email to, UWBmathDSP@uw.edu